Uganda’s Record Green Coffee Export Volumes: Sourcing High-Grade Screen 18 Amid Global Shifts

Uganda's Record Green Coffee Export Volumes: Sourcing High-Grade Screen 18 Amid Global Shifts

Uganda exported 8.6 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee worth US$2.3 billion in the twelve months to May 2026, up 16% in volume and 11% in value from the prior year, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). Robusta drove the bulk of that growth, and within Robusta, Screen 18 remains the highest-priced conventional grade, making it the reference point for buyers prioritizing bean size and consistency.

What the export data shows

The Uganda Coffee Development Authority's own reporting confirms that coffee exports for the twelve months ending May 2026 totaled 8.6 million bags worth US$2.3 billion (roughly UGX 8.3 trillion), compared with 7.4 million bags worth US$2.1 billion (UGX 7.7 trillion) in the previous twelve-month period, an increase of 16% in quantity and 11% in value that UCDA attributes to sustained production and export demand. This performance keeps coffee as Uganda's leading foreign exchange earner.

Within the UCDA's May 2026 monthly report, Robusta made up 84% of that month's export volume. Screen 18 accounted for 73,266 bags, or 14.1% of Robusta exports, and sold at an average of US$3.9/kilogram, the highest price among conventional (non-organic, non-washed) Robusta grades that month. Screen 15 remained the dominant grade by volume at 47% of Robusta exports, priced at US$3.8/kilogram, while Organic Robusta, a much smaller category at 0.4% of volume, fetched the overall top price of US$4.2/kilogram. The report also notes that Uganda's main Robusta harvest was ongoing in the Greater Masaka and South-Western regions as of May 2026, with exporters preparing for the subsequent harvest further north around Mount Elgon.

Globally, the USDA's Coffee: World Markets and Trade report, cited in UCDA's own monthly bulletin, forecasts 2025/26 world coffee production at a record 178.8 million bags, with Robusta output up 10.9% year-on-year, even as global ending stocks are projected to fall for a fifth consecutive year.

What this means for buyers

Screen 18 supply is concentrated, not abundant. At 14.1% of May's Robusta export volume, Screen 18 is a minority grade compared to Screen 15. Buyers who need consistent Screen 18 volume across multiple shipments should confirm exporter allocation early in the harvest cycle rather than assuming spot availability late in the season.

Regional harvest timing affects which exporters can offer what, when. With the Greater Masaka and South-Western harvest active in May and the Mount Elgon harvest following later, buyers sourcing larger, higher-screen lots may get better selection and pricing by aligning purchase orders with the harvest window in the producing region rather than placing orders against a generic national average.

Volume growth doesn't guarantee grade availability. Uganda's overall 16% export volume growth is a national aggregate across all grades and both Robusta and Arabica. It does not, on its own, indicate that Screen 18 specifically is more available; buyers should request grade-specific allocation data from exporters rather than extrapolate from headline export growth.

Global production records don't remove sourcing risk. A record global 2025/26 production forecast, combined with falling ending stocks, points to a market that remains tight even as volumes grow. Buyers with EU-bound contracts should also confirm EUDR traceability documentation is in place for the specific lot and region of origin, since documentation requirements are tied to farm-level data rather than to the export grade.

FAQ

How much coffee did Uganda export in the last twelve months?

Uganda exported 8.6 million 60-kilogram bags worth US$2.3 billion in the twelve months ending May 2026, up from 7.4 million bags worth US$2.1 billion the previous year, per UCDA.

What share of Uganda's exports is Screen 18 Robusta?

In May 2026, Screen 18 accounted for 73,266 bags, or 14.1% of Robusta export volume, at an average price of US$3.9/kilogram, according to UCDA's May 2026 monthly report.

Which regions were harvesting Robusta as of May 2026?

UCDA's May 2026 report states the main harvest season was ongoing in the Greater Masaka and South-Western regions, with exporters preparing for the subsequent harvest in the Mount Elgon area.

Sources

Uganda Coffee Development Authority, official website

Uganda Coffee Development Authority, Monthly Coffee Report, May 2026

Sources: Uganda Coffee Development Authority's own reporting | UCDA's May 2026 monthly report