Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares market in Uganda

Earlier Report Observations

The Ugandan market for bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares showed considerable volatility from 2018 to 2023. Market volume expanded to 22 616 tons in 2019 but contracted sharply to 18 267 tons in 2020. While volume remained subdued through 2022, the market's value demonstrated resilience, growing from 18.2 million US dollars in 2020 to over 20.6 million by 2022.

The year 2022 was marked by significant industry developments even as physical volume dipped. Kyambogo University, in collaboration with AICAD, launched training to substitute wheat with locally available ingredients like cassava and millet flours, aiming to reduce import reliance. Concurrently, new bakery entrepreneurs entered the market, such as Cake Ish Uganda, leveraging social media for marketing and responding to evolving consumer preferences.

A dramatic market expansion occurred in 2023, with volume surging 42.6% to 24 519 tons and value rising 29.6% to 26.8 million US dollars, reaching the highest level in the observed period.

Production bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares in Uganda

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares, 2017-2020

World map of production of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares, 2017-2020

In 2019, Uganda's production of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares reached its peak at 20 208 tons, marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year. However, by 2020, production had fallen to 17 847 tons, representing a significant 11.7% decline compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production decreased by 11.5%, with an average annual decline of 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2019, the output value of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares in Uganda peaked at 19 700 thousand US dollars, showing a modest 1.6% increase. By 2020, this value had dropped to 17 697 thousand US dollars, reflecting a robust 10.2% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value fell by 9.7%, translating to an average annual decline of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares from Uganda

Exports in kind, t

Uganda's exports of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 8 246 tons, a gradual 5.0% drop compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 17.4%, with an average annual decline of 6.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan were the primary destinations for Uganda's exports in kind, jointly accounting for 84.1% of total flows. Other partners each held significantly smaller shares.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Uganda's export value of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports amounted to 8 177 thousand US dollars, a moderate 3.4% contraction year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 15.8%, equating to an average annual decline of 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan continued to lead as the top markets for Uganda's exports in value terms, together making up 82.5% of total flows. Other partners played a supplementary role.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2017-2020

Imports bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares to Uganda

Imports in kind, t

In 2019, Uganda's imports of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares reached their highest point at 11 088 tons, with an 18.6% increase. By 2020, imports had fallen to 8 666 tons, a strong 21.8% reduction compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 15.7%, with an average annual decline of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, India remained the leading supplier of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares to Uganda, accounting for 85.4% of total imports in kind. The remainder was distributed across many other countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2019, Uganda's import value of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares peaked at 10 910 thousand US dollars, showing a 14.7% increase. By 2020, this had decreased to 8 700 thousand US dollars, down by 20.3% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 16.7%, with an average annual decline of 5.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, India remained the main source for Uganda's imports in value terms, holding a 74.1% share of total flows. The rest of the volume was fragmented across numerous other destinations.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2017-2020