How to Export Coffee From Kenya and Uganda (2026 Guide)

To export coffee from Kenya or Uganda, you work inside two quite different systems. Kenya has a licensed-dealer, exchange and auction tradition that was reshaped by a new Coffee Act in 2026. Uganda's coffee sector is overseen by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), which certifies exports and registers those who market coffee. This guide explains who regulates what, how grades work, what documents to expect, and what the European Union's deforestation rules mean for you. It reflects official and reputable sources as of October 2026; coffee rules are changing, so confirm everything with the regulator before you commit to a shipment.

Who regulates coffee exports in Uganda?

UCDA is a statutory body created under the Uganda Coffee Development Authority Statute of 1991, amended in 1994. Its own materials describe a role that covers promoting and monitoring coffee marketing, ensuring exports meet international quality standards and certifying exports. According to UCDA's published information, it issues certificates of grade and quantity, certifies all coffee exports, keeps statistics on coffee sales, and administers International Coffee Organization stamps. It also registers organisations and bodies that apply to market coffee, following guidelines issued by the Minister.

UCDA's information manual refers to the Coffee Regulations, 1994 and to inspection, registration and certification services run by its quality and regulatory directorate. UCDA also hosts a document titled "Coffee Marketing Licensing / Registration Guidelines: Export Marketing", but the file would not open as readable text for us, so we cannot summarise its requirements, fees or forms. Contact UCDA directly for the current application steps rather than relying on a third-party summary.

Uganda coffee grades: Robusta and Arabica

Uganda grows both species. UCDA's fact sheet lists the grade names that appear in its price table (dated 9 September 2026 on the page): for Robusta, Screen 18, Screen 15 and Screen 12, plus Kiboko and FAQ; for Arabica, Bugisu AA, Bugisu A, Bugisu PB, Bugisu B, Wugar and Drugar, and Arabica parchment. The page does not define these grades, so ask your buyer which specification they are contracting against and have samples cupped and graded before you agree a contract. We are deliberately not quoting prices here: UCDA publishes daily market prices, and anything we printed would be out of date quickly.

How to export coffee from Kenya: licences and the Coffee Act 2026

Kenya's rules recently changed. A commentary from the law firm CMS, published 29 April 2026, reports that the Coffee Act (No. 8 of 2026) received presidential assent on 13 March 2026 and came into force on 27 March 2026, replacing the coffee framework that sat under the Crops Act, 2013 and the 2019 Crops (Coffee) (General) Regulations. We could not open the Act itself on the Kenya Law site during this research, so treat the following as a secondary summary and check the Act directly.

• Who licenses: the summary describes a three-tier system involving the Coffee Board of Kenya (regulation and licensing), county governments, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), which licenses coffee exchanges and brokers.
• Licence cycle: it says licences run on an annual cycle expiring on 30 June.
• Marketing channels: auction at a licensed exchange; direct sale (which requires quality assessment and price benchmarking through an exchange); international exchanges; and other methods prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary.

Under the previous system, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Coffee Directorate did the licensing. Kenyans.co.ke reported on 26 August 2025 that AFA had licensed 152 coffee dealers for 2025/26 (126 buyers, 15 warehousemen and 11 agents) and said only dealers named in the gazette notice were recognised as legitimate exporters. The lesson for a new exporter is the same under either regime: check that you, and anyone you buy from or sell through, hold the right licence for the current season.

Kenya's auction runs through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE). A Business Daily report of 1 August 2024 said firms holding a coffee brokerage licence from the CMA can trade at the NCE and that the CMA had cleared three more firms. Because the 2026 Act now names direct sale and international exchanges as additional channels, ask the Coffee Board and your miller or marketing agent which route applies to your coffee this season. If you are a farmer or cooperative, check how your coffee is milled, graded and sold, and whether your buyer is licensed.

Export documents, phytosanitary certificates and logistics

Specific document lists vary by buyer and destination. In Uganda, the Ministry of Agriculture's Crop Inspection and Certification Department runs the phytosanitary process through its ePhyto portal, and the Uganda Export Promotion Board describes a one-time exporter setup (register with the Board or the chamber of commerce, apply to the Ministry, pass a packhouse inspection, obtain an export number) followed by per-shipment inspection and certification, with an official certificate fee of UGX 5,000. That page is a general guide, not coffee-specific, so ask UCDA and the Ministry which certificates your consignment needs and confirm them with your clearing agent.

In Kenya, the plant health authority KEPHIS says exporters must obtain the importing country's phytosanitary requirements before inspection, and that its inspectors carry out the work leading to a phytosanitary certificate. Whether your coffee shipment needs one depends on the destination, so ask your buyer and check with KEPHIS. The trade term you agree also decides who pays for freight and insurance; our guide to Incoterms explains the common ones.

EU Deforestation Regulation: what coffee exporters should know

If your buyer is in the EU, expect questions about the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The European Commission's page lists coffee among the covered commodities and gives application dates of 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators and 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, with soluble coffee added from 30 December 2027. The Commission's July 2026 update notes the delegated act adding soluble coffee still needed scrutiny by Parliament and Council. Operators placing covered products on the EU market must be able to show they do not come from recently deforested land, so EU buyers will ask you for traceability and plot-level origin information. Dates and tools have changed more than once, so check the Commission page before you sign supply contracts.

Finding and vetting coffee buyers

Ask every prospective buyer for company registration details, trade references and their quality specification, and insist on a clear sample-approval process. Agree payment terms before you mill and bag the coffee: our guide to letters of credit, transfers and escrow compares the options. For the broader process, read the farmers' guide to exporting agricultural products and why East African exports are growing.

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates coffee exports in Uganda? UCDA, which certifies coffee exports, issues certificates of grade and quantity, and registers organisations that apply to market coffee. Contact UCDA for the current licensing guidelines.

Do I need a licence to export coffee from Kenya? Kenya's coffee sector is licensed. Under the 2026 Act, a secondary summary says licensing involves the Coffee Board of Kenya, counties and the CMA. Confirm which licence applies to your role with the Coffee Board before you trade.

Is the Nairobi coffee auction still the only way to sell Kenyan coffee? Not according to the 2026 Act summary, which lists direct sales and international exchanges as additional channels. Confirm current procedures with the Coffee Board.

Does the EU deforestation law affect coffee from Kenya and Uganda? Yes. Coffee is a covered commodity, and the Commission lists application dates from 30 December 2026.

Getting started

Confirm licences with UCDA or the Coffee Board and ask your clearing agent about documents before you ship. Then create a free Comilmart account and list your coffee; you can list before verified supplier (KYS) checks and add verification later to build trust. Overseas buyers can register and send requests for quotation at /request-quotation. Browse the food and agro category or the supplier directory. Official references: the UCDA about page, the UCDA fact sheet, the European Commission EUDR page and the Uganda Export Promotion Board phytosanitary guide.