African Coffee Exports Surge to Record 1.18 Million Tons in 2024/25, Led by Ethiopia and Uganda

Addis Ababa, December 16, 2025 (ENA) —African coffee exports hit a historic 1.18 million tons in the 2024/25 season, marking the first time continental shipments surpassed one million tons, according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO).

Ethiopia and Uganda drove the surge, with Ethiopia’s exports climbing 27.3% to 442,200 tons, while Uganda’s rose 29.6% to 495,600 tons, together accounting for nearly 80% of Africa’s coffee exports.

Ethiopia’s growth is attributed to strong harvests, government reforms, better exporter access, high global prices, and large released inventories.

Strategic market engagement—including key buyers such as Germany, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and China’s zero-tariff policy—also fueled the expansion.

The continent’s strong performance stands in contrast to a 0.3% global decline in coffee shipments, largely due to weaker South American output.

African producers, currently representing 11.6% of global exports, aim to increase their share to 20% by 2030, supported by initiatives in Tanzania, Kenya, and other nations to expand production and modernize auction systems.

ICE data highlights robust demand, with arabica prices surging 51% over the year, closing at $8.26/kg on September 30, 2025.

At the national level, several countries are advancing their own expansion strategies. In April 2025, Tanzania, Africa’s third-largest exporter after Uganda and Ethiopia, began developing a plan to quadruple its production by 2030.

In October 2025, Kenya announced the digitization of its coffee auctions as part of a national program to triple output over the next three years.