Uganda is eyeing the Chinese market by promoting its coffee and tea products at the Shanghai trade fair.

Uganda showcased its coffee, tea, and dairy products at the Shanghai International Trade Fair 2026 with the aim of expanding its exports to China.

Coffee exports reached $2.4 billion in 2025, making Uganda the leading coffee exporter in Africa. China remains a small but rapidly growing market, with imports of Ugandan coffee amounting to approximately $28 million.

Uganda is seeking to expand its exports of coffee, tea and dairy products to China through its participation in HOTELEX Shanghai 2026, as Kampala aims to gain greater access to one of the world's largest consumer markets.

Trade relations between Uganda and China

This initiative, spearheaded by the Ugandan Embassy in Beijing, has connected Ugandan exporters with Chinese buyers in the hospitality, retail and e-commerce sectors through trade relationships aimed at securing new business partnerships.

Uganda used this platform to showcase its agricultural products through coffee tastings and trade shows, helping to position its exports in light of growing Chinese demand for premium and specialty products.

This trend comes at a time when coffee remains Uganda's main export commodity. The country exported 8.4 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee worth nearly US$2.4 billion in 2025, making it the largest coffee exporter in Africa.

However, China still represents a relatively small share of Uganda’s export markets. According to data from the United Nations International Trade Association (Comtrade), Uganda exported approximately US$27-28 million worth of coffee and related products to China in 2024, compared to its total exports to China of approximately US$92.6 million.

Chinese markets are open to Ugandan products.

Ugandan coffee exports to China have already shown strong momentum, rising sharply in recent years, with some reports pointing to triple-digit growth driven by demand from coffee shop chains and specialty coffee roasters.

Besides coffee, Uganda is also promoting tea and dairy products as part of its export diversification strategy, with the aim of increasing added value and reducing reliance on a narrow range of goods.

China’s rapidly growing consumer market and sophisticated coffee culture represent a tremendous opportunity for African exporters. For Uganda, increasing exports to China not only diversifies markets but also corrects structural imbalances in the trade balance, boosts foreign exchange earnings, and upgrades the agricultural value chain through higher-value products and well-known brands.