Africa’s coffee exports hit a record 1.18 million tons in 2025, with Ethiopia and Uganda shipping, accounting for nearly 80 percent of it, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has revealed.

The two east African nations drove the surge with Ethiopia’s export climbed by 27.3 percent attaining 442,200 tons, while Uganda’s export rose by 29.6 percent reaching to 495,600 tons, according to the report seen by APA on Tuesday.

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 stark contrast to a 0.3 percent global decline in coffee shipments, largely due to weaker South American output.

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

ICO data highlighted robust demand, with coffee Arabica prices surging 51 percent 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-biggest coffee exporter after Uganda and Ethiopia, began developing a plan to quadruple its production by 2030.