{"id":57114,"date":"2026-02-08T09:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T09:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/rwanda-edges-out-uganda-to-become-kenya-s-top-coffee-supplier\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:38:14","slug":"rwanda-edges-out-uganda-to-become-kenya-s-top-coffee-supplier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwanda-edges-out-uganda-to-become-kenya-s-top-coffee-supplier\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda edges out Uganda to become Kenya\u2019s top coffee supplier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Data from Kenya\u2019s Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) show that coffee imports into Kenya declined by 2.9 percent during the quarter under review, falling from 248.93 tonnes in 2024\u20132025 to 241.81 tonnes in 2025\u20132026. Despite the lower volumes, the total value of imports rose by 11.8 percent to $1.64 million, up from $1.47 million a year earlier, reflecting higher prices and changing consumer preferences.<\/p>\n<p>The shift saw Rwanda overtake Uganda as Kenya\u2019s leading coffee supplier during the period. This transition is largely driven by Rwanda\u2019s specialisation in high-quality Arabica coffee, which accounts for approximately 98 percent of its total production. Unlike the bulk Robusta typically sourced from the region, Rwanda\u2019s Arabica is prized for its bright acidity and complex flavour profiles, making it the preferred choice for Kenya\u2019s expanding speciality coffee houses.<\/p>\n<p>With the shift, Rwanda accounted for 43 percent of Kenya\u2019s coffee imports, while Uganda\u2019s coffee exports to Kenya declined from $1.13 million to $0.48 million during the period. <\/p>\n<p>Rwanda\u2019s stronger position in Kenya\u2019s coffee market comes amid a record year for its global coffee exports. In 2025, Rwanda earned more than $148.6 million (about Rwf 216 billion) from coffee exports, the highest level on record, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).<\/p>\n<p>Export volumes rose by 39 percent year-on-year to 23,860 tonnes of green coffee, while revenues increased by 65 percent compared with 2024, when exports totalled 17,142 tonnes valued at $89.8 million. Higher global prices also supported earnings, with the average export price rising by 19 percent to $6.2 per kilogram.<\/p>\n<p>NAEB said the growth was driven by increased production from newly maturing coffee trees, improved farming practices and sustained investment across the sector. Market expansion efforts, particularly in specialty segments in Europe and North America, also contributed to the gains.<\/p>\n<p>NAEB Chief Executive Claude Bizimana said the 2025 performance puts Rwanda on track to meet its medium-term targets under the second National Strategy for Transformation, which aims to raise coffee exports to 32,000 tonnes and generate $192 million in revenues by 2029.<\/p>\n<p>For farmers, higher export earnings translated into improved returns. In 2025, growers earned an average of Rwf 900 per kilogramme of coffee cherries, above the minimum farm-gate price of Rwf 600 set by NAEB.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-101801 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/502494511_1104683258354733_469132991337799630_n.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda\u2019s Arabica coffee is highly sought after for its bright acidity and complex flavour profiles, making it the preferred choice for Kenya\u2019s expanding speciality coffee houses.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-101802 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20230403-wa0038-1024x965-1-85911-1bd73.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda has overtaken Uganda to become Kenya\u2019s largest source of imported coffee.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-101803 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/17165233332_b938338f85_b.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda earned more than $148.6 million (about Rwf 216 billion) from coffee exports in 2025, the highest level on record.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-101804 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/naeb-coffeee.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda accounted for 43 percent of Kenya\u2019s coffee imports, while Uganda\u2019s coffee exports to Kenya declined from $1.13 million to $0.48 million during the period. \" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rwanda has overtaken Uganda to become Kenya\u2019s largest source of imported coffee, signalling a shift in regional trade dynamics as buyers increasingly favour higher-value and speciality coffee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000101800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[75],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-57114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-62","tag-homenews","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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