Tanzania's coffee production is expected to reach 1.6 million 60-kg bags in the 2026/27 crop year, a 10.3% increase compared to the 1.45 million bags estimated for the previous cycle, according to an annual report from the attaché of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Dar es Salaam.
The growth is mainly attributed to the full maturation of rehabilitated areas between 2019 and 2024, in addition to the stimulus provided by high coffee prices in the international market. The report points out that producers increased investments in fertilizers, equipment, and crop management in response to more attractive prices.
Favorable rainfall and stable temperatures also contributed to the recovery of productivity after previous periods of drought. Tanzania is one of the world's three main producers of the Colombian mild Arabica variety, accounting for about 6% of the global supply of this type of coffee.
The area cultivated with coffee in the country is expected to increase from 270,000 hectares in 2025/26 to 275,000 hectares in 2026/27, a growth of almost 2%. The harvested area is also expected to increase from 265,000 to 270,000 hectares. This growth is mainly driven by robusta producers in the Kagera and Kigoma regions, who benefit from subsidized seedlings and firm producer prices.
The coffee sector is Tanzania's main commercial agricultural segment, involving over 40% of the country's farmers. Small producers account for about 90% of national production, while large farms represent less than 10% of the supply. Robusta is mainly grown in the Kagera region, near Lake Victoria, while Arabica is concentrated in the mountainous areas of the north and south of the country.
Tanzania's green coffee exports are projected at 1.41 million bags in 2026/27, a 2.9% increase over the 1.37 million bags of the previous cycle. The European Union and Japan remain the main destinations, but the United States is rapidly gaining ground as a market for specialty coffees. The USDA highlights that the combination of improved weather, production expansion, and higher global demand is supporting the growth in shipments.
Domestic consumption is expected to rise from 85,000 to 90,000 bags in 2026/27, driven by the expansion of coffee cultivation in urban centers such as Dar es Salaam and Arusha. According to the report, income growth, urbanization, and tourism are stimulating coffee shops, kiosks, and businesses linked to local coffee consumption.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.