Market research

Milk market in Uganda

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Uganda's milk market volume expanded significantly from around 2.0 million tons in 2018 to 3.8 million tons in 2023. This growth was primarily fueled by a steady increase in licensed dairy processors, whose numbers rose from 135 in 2019 to 160 by 2024, enhancing the country's processing capacity and reducing post-harvest losses.

The Dairy Development Authority played a central role by rehabilitating and equipping milk collection centers across regions, which improved market access for small-scale farmers. Simultaneously, the opening of new export destinations, such as Algeria and Nigeria, provided additional outlets for Ugandan dairy products, offsetting the loss of the Kenyan market in 2023.

Domestic consumption also received a boost from school-based awareness campaigns, while continued investment in cold-chain infrastructure helped stabilize supply. Regulatory efforts to align with international standards further supported export growth, contributing to the overall market expansion.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Uganda
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production milk in Uganda

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Uganda's milk production remained broadly stable in 2020, with output at 2 781 thousand tonnes, similar to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 67.3%, which translates to an annualized rate of 18.7%. The peak production was recorded in 2019 at 2 781 thousand tonnes, with the largest annual increase of 32.4% also occurring that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	26.4%	32.4%	-	18.7%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Milk production in Uganda increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, with output valued at 2 566 million US dollars, marking an 11.0% gain from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 44.6%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 13.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.3%	19.1%	11.0%	13.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk from Uganda

Exports in kind, t

Milk exports from Uganda declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 69 015 tonnes, a modest reduction of 6.1% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 2.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.8%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 75 314 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 6.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.4%	(2.4%)	(6.1%)	(0.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya dominated Uganda's milk exports in kind, consistently accounting for 90.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After a two-year decline, milk shipments from Uganda increased in 2020, with exports valued at 63 670 thousand US dollars, a limited uptick of 4.2% from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 15.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -5.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 61 098 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual decline of 12.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.0%)	(12.2%)	4.2%	(5.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017-2020, Kenya played a leading role in Uganda's milk exports in value terms, holding an 85.4% share of total flows, while the remainder was distributed among other partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk to Uganda

Imports in kind, t

Uganda's milk imports showed significant volatility from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, imports stood at 659 tonnes, up by 1.5% year-on-year. The maximum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 11 151 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 2 927.5%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 94.2%. Overall, imports varied by a factor of 30 between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2017.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2 927.5%	(94.2%)	1.5%	21.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Rwanda remained the main market for Uganda's milk imports in kind, with a share of 83.5% of total flows, while the rest was fragmented across numerous other destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Uganda's milk imports in value terms exhibited an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, imports reached 1 697 thousand US dollars, reflecting a limited fall of 7.2% year-on-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 3 763 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 342.6%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 51.4%. Imports varied by a factor of 4.4 between the high in 2018 and the low in 2017.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	342.6%	(51.4%)	(7.2%)	25.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Rwanda (34.5% of imports in value terms), the Netherlands (26.7%), and the United Arab Emirates (16.1%) formed the core group of markets for Uganda's milk imports in value terms, together representing 77.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io