Banana and Plantain Market Overview in Uganda

The Ugandan banana and plantain market contracted modestly to $ in 2019, stabilizing at the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2012 with an increase of % against the previous year. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $. From 2013 to 2019, the growth of the market remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, banana and plantain production reached $ in 2019 estimated in export prices. Overall, production posted a slight increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2012 when the production volume increased by % year-to-year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $. From 2013 to 2019, production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

The average yield of bananas and plantains in Uganda dropped modestly to tonnes per ha in 2019, therefore, remained relatively stable against 2018 figures. In general, the yield recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2009 with an increase of % year-to-year. As a result, the yield attained the peak level of tonnes per ha. From 2010 to 2019, the growth of the average banana and plantain yield remained at a somewhat lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2019, the total area harvested in terms of bananas and plantains production in Uganda was estimated at ha, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year's figure. Over the period under review, the harvested area saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2012 when the harvested area increased by % y-o-y. As a result, the harvested area reached the peak level of ha. From 2013 to 2019, the growth of the banana and plantain harvested area remained at a lower figure.

In 2019, consumption of bananas and plantains in Uganda dropped slightly to tonnes, therefore, remained relatively stable against 2018. Over the period under review, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2012 with an increase of % year-to-year. Banana and plantain consumption peaked at tonnes in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2019, consumption remained at a lower figure.

The size of the banana and plantain market in Uganda shrank slightly to $ in 2019, remaining constant against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2012 when the market value increased by % against the previous year. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $. From 2013 to 2019, the growth of the market remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Depressed by shrinking demand for banana and plantain in Uganda, the market is expected to continue its downward consumption trend over the next decade. The performance of the market is forecast to contract with an anticipated CAGR of -% for the period from 2019 to , which is projected to depress the market volume to tonnes by the end of .

Over the period under review, imports of banana and plantain in Uganda were negligibly small compared to the production volumes. Therefore, the share of imports in the total market was practically nonexistent, both in volume and in value terms. This situation has remained constant over the period under review, which means that domestic producers entirely meet the domestic demand for banana and plantain.

This tangible trade surplus reflects the fact that the market remains buoyed by domestic production, and the industry is highly incorporated into the global market, which is likely to continue in the medium term.