Introduction:
Uganda’s coffee industry continues to feel the ripple effects of global market shifts. As of June 30th, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) released its daily coffee market analysis showing notable changes in both Robusta and Arabica futures. Whether you’re a smallholder farmer or an exporter, understanding these trends can help you make better decisions on when to sell or store your beans.
Robusta Coffee Futures: Narrowing Discounts, Rising Costs
Robusta coffee remains Uganda’s top agricultural export, but market dynamics are changing. According to MAAIF’s report, the price gap between the London and New York markets narrowed. The September 2025 contract for London Robusta closed at $3661 per ton, reflecting a price discount of 45.61% compared to New York’s Arabica — a tightening arbitrage spread that farmers and traders must watch closely.
• SEPT ‘25 Robusta: $3661/ton | UGX 13,136/kg | ▼ $4
• MAY ‘26 Robusta: $3483/ton | UGX 12,490/kg | ▲ $25
Insight: If this narrowing continues, it may indicate an uptick in Robusta demand or a shift in global sourcing strategies. For Ugandan growers, this could lead to better prices in the short-term future, especially if global Arabica remains oversupplied.
Arabica Futures: Falling Prices Amid Global Oversupply.
Arabica coffee is currently facing downward pressure due to an abundance of global supplies. The USDA forecasts Brazil’s 2025/26 production at 65 million bags (a 0.5% increase), while Vietnam’s output is expected to rise by 6.9%.
• SEPT ‘25 Arabica: 303.75 cts/lb | UGX 24,034/kg | ▼ 1.90 cts
• JUL ‘26 Arabica: 280.00 cts/lb | UGX 22,154/kg | ▼ 3.70 cts
Insight: These falling prices suggest that Arabica farmers should consider value addition (like parchment drying) or diversification, as market saturation might linger longer than expected.
Indicative Prices for Export Grades (as of June 30th, 2025)
Ugandan coffee continues to hold solid value on the international market. The highest registered sale was for Drugar coffee at 316.00 cts/lb, while Bugisu AA hit 307.58 cts/lb.
| Coffee Grade | USD cts/lb | UGX/Kg |
| Screen 18 (Robusta) | 182.40 | 14,432 |
| Bugisu AA (Arabica) | 298.75 | 23,638 |
| Drugar (Arabica) | 277.75 | 21,976 |
| WUGAR | 296.75 | 23,480 |
Tip: Farmers producing Bugisu or Drugar quality should continue investing in post-harvest handling to fetch top dollar in export markets.
June 27th, 2025: Registered Sales Volume Snapshot.
The report shows strong activity in Robusta, especially Screen 15, which recorded the highest volume at 9,561 bags. For Arabica, Bugisu AA and WUGAR remain premium exports.
| Coffee Type | Highest Price (cts/lb) | Volume Sold (60kg bags) |
| Screen 18 | 188.95 | 5,450 |
| Bugisu AA | 307.58 | 960 |
| Drugar | 316.00 | 560 |
Farmgate Prices: What Farmers Are Earning.
Understanding how much farmers earn at the grassroots level provides a comprehensive picture of market dynamics. As of June 30th, 2025, these were the farmgate price ranges:
• FAQ (Fair Average Quality): UGX 10,500–11,000
• Kiboko (Dry Cherry): UGX 5,000–5,500
• Arabica Parchment: UGX 14,000–15,000
• Drugar (Clean): UGX 13,000–14,000
Advice: Farmers should align harvest and drying schedules with market spikes while ensuring quality remains high to command better farmgate prices.
Conclusion:
The June 2025 coffee market analysis shows both opportunity and caution. While Robusta is enjoying a narrowing price gap with Arabica, global Arabica prices are under pressure from rising supply. For Ugandan farmers and exporters, staying informed and responsive to market trends will be key to maximizing profits. As always, quality pays, and those who focus on excellence in processing and storage are best positioned to succeed.
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