Uganda Juice Industry
Overview
Agriculture and agricultural output are very important to the Ugandan economy. The agricultural industry is the largest employer of Ugandan's with 75% of the population earning a living from the industry. Food and agricultural raw materials account for 40% of the total exports from Uganda. Additionally, the sector contributes 22.7% to the Ugandan GDP. The large contribution of agricultural products to the Ugandan economy has led the government to promote value addition as a means of increasing the value of exports. According to the Ugandan Investment Authority (UIA), the demand for Uganda’s organic products is higher than the supply. This imbalance presents a high opportunity for export of organic fruit juice from Uganda. Fruits and farm produce are wasted or sold at very low prices during peak seasons due to inadequate storage facilities and lack of effective processing or preservation techniques, leading to high wastage levels. Juice production not only serves to add value to agricultural export but also serve as a way to prevent wastage of excess fruits. The juice industry has an opportunity to contribute to the Ugandan economy by increasing the value of the country’s exports and simultaneously preventing wastage of fruits so high in demand, and creating jobs for Ugandans.
Industry Overview
The juice making industry in Uganda consists primarily of companies that produce “natural” fruit juices and companies that produce varying degrees of a mixture of fruit concentrate, fruit flavoring, sugar, and water. “Natural” juices in the Ugandan market are fruit drinks that consist primarily of juice extracted fruit flesh or pulp. The table below shows the two sectors and the ingredients for their juices.
Industry Sector Description/Contents
Flavored Juices Mixture of fruit juice concentrate, water and sugar
Mixture of fruit puree, water, and sugar
Mixture of flavoring, water, coloring, and preservatives
Fruit Juices Juice extracted from flesh or
Agriculture and agricultural output are very important to the Ugandan economy. The agricultural industry is the largest employer of Ugandan's with 75% of the population earning a living from the industry. Food and agricultural raw materials account for 40% of the total exports from Uganda. Additionally, the sector contributes 22.7% to the Ugandan GDP. The large contribution of agricultural products to the Ugandan economy has led the government to promote value addition as a means of increasing the value of exports. According to the Ugandan Investment Authority (UIA), the demand for Uganda’s organic products is higher than the supply. This imbalance presents a high opportunity for export of organic fruit juice from Uganda. Fruits and farm produce are wasted or sold at very low prices during peak seasons due to inadequate storage facilities and lack of effective processing or preservation techniques, leading to high wastage levels. Juice production not only serves to add value to agricultural export but also serve as a way to prevent wastage of excess fruits. The juice industry has an opportunity to contribute to the Ugandan economy by increasing the value of the country’s exports and simultaneously preventing wastage of fruits so high in demand, and creating jobs for Ugandans.
Industry Overview
The juice making industry in Uganda consists primarily of companies that produce “natural” fruit juices and companies that produce varying degrees of a mixture of fruit concentrate, fruit flavoring, sugar, and water. “Natural” juices in the Ugandan market are fruit drinks that consist primarily of juice extracted fruit flesh or pulp. The table below shows the two sectors and the ingredients for their juices.
Industry Sector Description/Contents
Flavored Juices Mixture of fruit juice concentrate, water and sugar
Mixture of fruit puree, water, and sugar
Mixture of flavoring, water, coloring, and preservatives
Fruit Juices Juice extracted from flesh or