Uganda has signed a landmark coffee export agreement with South Korean company GVCC Co. Ltd, marking a significant step in expanding the countryโs coffee market in Asia. The deal was signed on September 7 on the sidelines of the Uganda-Korea Trade and Investment Meeting, with the first shipment of Ugandan coffee already on its way to South Korea.
Under the agreement, Besmark Coffee Company Ltd will serve as Ugandaโs exclusive supply partner, while Busan-based GVCC Co. Ltd will act as the exclusive distributor across South Korea. The partnership aims to establish a comprehensive coffee supply chain using the South Korean port city of Busan as a regional distribution hub.
Ugandaโs Ambassador to Japan, Tophace Kaahwa, who is also accredited to South Korea, confirmed that two containers of coffee have already been dispatched. He revealed that GVCC Chief Executive Soo-jung Lim is targeting imports of one 20-tonne container of Ugandan coffee every day, equivalent to about 3,500 tonnes annually. He called on Ugandan farmers to increase production to meet the growing demand.
The partnership is being celebrated as an early success of Ugandaโs Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) strategy, launched in 2025 to encourage diplomatic missions to promote value-added exports rather than raw commodities. The initiative supports Ugandaโs broader goal of growing its economy to $500 billion by 2040.
Leading the Ugandan delegation, Second Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga welcomed GVCCโs interest in Ugandan coffee and assured the company of a reliable supply. He reiterated Ugandaโs long-term ambition to process and add value to its coffee locally before export, while also exploring new opportunities in Japan and other Asian markets.
Dr. Kiyonga noted that President Yoweri Museveni has set a national target of producing 20 million bags of coffee annually and pledged government support to ensure the success of the partnership. He highlighted that much of Ugandaโs coffee is grown by smallholder farmers on two-to-three-acre farms without chemical inputs, making it effectively organic and attractive to health-conscious consumers.
The Deputy Prime Minister also pointed to the need for more balanced trade between Uganda and South Korea. Uganda currently exports goods worth about $10 million to South Korea while importing approximately $100 million. Official figures show that Uganda exported goods worth around $7.18 million to South Korea in 2023, with coffee, tea and spices contributing about $2.6 million.
Ambassador Henry Mayega described the agreement as a major milestone for Ugandaโs coffee industry, emphasizing the cropโs cultural and economic importance. Coffee remains deeply rooted in Ugandan traditions and is a key source of livelihood for millions of households.
Uganda is currently Africaโs largest coffee exporter, having surpassed Ethiopia in 2025, and ranks among the worldโs leading suppliers of Robusta coffee. In the 12 months to May 2026, the country exported 8.6 million 60-kilogram bags worth approximately $2.3 billion (UGX 8.3 trillion), compared to 7.4 million bags the previous year.
Robusta coffee accounts for about 80 percent of Ugandaโs exports, while Arabica continues to record strong value growth. During the 2024/25 coffee year, Europe remained the largest destination for Ugandan coffee, taking 62 percent of exports, followed by Africa with 23 percent and Asia with 13 percent.
As coffee contributes more than one-fifth of Ugandaโs export earnings, the new partnership with South Korea is expected to strengthen market access, boost foreign exchange earnings, and create new opportunities for the millions of Ugandans who depend on the coffee value chain.
