Uganda plans to make a concerted push into the Chinese specialty coffee market this November, using the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai as a key platform to boost exports and secure value-added deals.
The effort is being led by Inspire Africa Group, a Ugandan agribusiness company that plans to showcase the nation’s coffee at the massive trade fair scheduled for Nov. 5 to 10. The move comes as China emerges as one of the fastest-growing global consumers of specialty coffee.
“Our presence at CIIE is a testament to Uganda’s potential to supply high-quality, traceable, and sustainably grown coffee to the world,” said Dr. Nelson Tugume, the Chief Executive Oficer of Inspire Africa Coffee.
Tugume noted that China presents a ready market that could open doors for greater value addition, which would ultimately improve livelihoods for Ugandan farmers. The company’s focus at the expo will include market research, sampling sessions and trade discussions aimed at securing distribution across Asia.
The initiative supports Uganda’s national strategy to diversify export destinations and promote locally processed goods.
Uganda remains a major global coffee producer, but like many African nations, it seeks to capture more value by processing and exporting finished products instead of raw green beans. Tugume has previously noted that the global coffee industry is valued at over $460 billion, with African producers earning a fraction of that total.
The company’s participation at the event is aimed at positioning Ugandan coffee among the world’s celebrated brews, building on recent trends that have seen Ugandan coffee exports to China increase significantly
In the 2024/2025 financial year, Uganda’s coffee exports totaled approximately 7.77 million 60kg bags worth US$ 2.22 billion, a significant increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to a strong harvest and higher global coffee prices driven by supply concerns in Brazil and Vietnam. For the twelve months ending July 2024, exports were 6.3 million 60kg bags, valued at US$ 1.25 billion.