The month of September opened with very low volumes of maize grain delivery to Kenya via the border post market at Busia. Plenty of maize was available in Kenya and Tanzania at a lower market price than the Ugandan grain. Good quality maize was offered at Ugx.855/kg (Ksh.29.5) while fair quality at Ugx.841/kg (Ksh.29).The least acceptable maize grain at Busia was offered at Ugx.826/kg (Ks.28.5).Less than 100Mt of sorted grain was traded daily at the border market. An estimated 200Mt of maize grain was reversely received at the same market from Kenya.
During the 2nd week of September, the volume of maize from Tanzania declined greatly and this supply ended up in Kamba region central Kenya. Meanwhile, the volume of maize grain from Kenya increased as the harvest in Kitale-Kenya intensified. An estimated 300Mt of grain was received at Busia border post into the Uganda market. The quality was not good and still wet with a high moisture content. The grain price at Busia increased to Ugx.922/kg (Ksh.31.5), fair quality to Ugx.908/kg (Ksh.31) and the least acceptable quality usually for animal feed to Ugx.879/kg (Ksh.30).
Stable maize grain prices were recorded mid-September in Busia at Ugx.913/kg (Ksh.31.5), Fair quality at Ugx.899/kg (Ksh.31) and the least acceptable quality at Ugx.884/kg (Ksh.30.5). Only less than 200MT of maize grain daily was delivered to the Ugandan side and at this time Kampala registered a lower price than Busia border post market.
In the final week, a slight increment in price was recorded for maize at the border post market. Good quality maize was offered at Ugx.928/kg (Ksh.32). Fair quality cost Ugx.913/kg (Ksh.31.5) while the least acceptable quality cost Ugx.899/kg (Ksh.31). Less maize grain was recorded heading to the Kenyan market
During the opening week of September, maize grain was offered at Ugx.950/kg in Kampala while maize flour cost Ugx.75,000 a bag weighing 50kgs in Kisenyi-Owino Markets. Maize bran cost Ugx.700/kg in the same markets. The maize grain price declined in Kampala from Ugx.950/kg and Ugx.920-900/kg in the following week. Supply to this market was registered from Kiboga/Kyankwanzi, Masindi and Mubende at Ugx.800/kg wholesale price.
Mid-month, the maize price in Kampala slightly declined from Ugx.980-970/kg to Ugx.960/kg. Slow purchase of maize flour was also mentioned in this market rendering the price lower at Ugx.80,000/bag of 50kgs.
Rwandan transit traders bought maize and cassava chips during the month. In Kamwenge they bought it at Ugx.880-900/kg and cassava chips at Ugx.300-350/kg. In Mubende it was bought at Ugx.800/kg. Mid-month, harvesting of maize in Kapchorwa and Sebei increased availing more grain to the market. The yield was expected to be good.
Kampala’s grain market closed with a slight increment in price at Ugx.980-1000/kg with a correspondent increment in the maize flour price of Ugx.88, 000-90,000/50kg bag. Supply was registered from a number of production locations including the northern region (Lira and Gulu).
Traders from Uganda received beans from Kenya and Ethiopia at the beginning of the month. The quality was not good compared to the Ugandan beans which were more expensive. Yellow and Nambale short beans were offered at Ugx.4000/kg (Ksh.138), red Wailimu beans at Ugx.2378/kg (Ksh.82) and Nambale long beans at Ugx.3248/kg (Ksh.112). Fifty to eighty trucks loaded with 12Mt each were delivered to Busia during the opening week of September. Most of this supply was delivered to Soroti, Kampala, Jinja, Iganga, Lira and within Busia.
Other commodities demanded by the Kenyan transit traders at Busia included dry cassava at Ugx.580-610/kg (Ksh.20-21), millet at Ugx.2262/kg (Ksh.78), Red sorghum at Ugx.1044/kg (Ksh.36), white sorghum from mainly Lira, Serere & Ngora at Ugx.986/kg (Ksh.34), Soya beans at Ugx.2813/kg (Ksh.97), groundnuts at Ugx.5220/kg (Ksh.180), simsim at Ugx.6380/kg (Ksh.220) and green grams at Ugx.2204/kg (Ksh.76).
Mid-month, lower price was recorded for Kenyan beans supplied via Busia border post compared to the Ugandan supply. The volume of beans from Kenya/Ethiopia increased to about 100 trucks loaded with 12Mt each daily throughout that week and by this time, these beans were delivered to far places within Uganda such as Lira and Kampala. A slight increment in the market price was recorded for Yellow and Short Nambale beans while other varieties were stable. Mwitamani beans were also delivered to the Ugandan market from Kenya at Ugx.2490/kg (Ksh.85). The Ugandan Yellow beans supply was priced differently at Ugx.4336-4395/kg (Ksh.148-150).
Stable prices were reported for Kenya/Ethiopian beans crossing via Busia and at the same time less trucks loaded with these beans reached this market. Less demand for the Kenyan business was reported due to the supply of newly harvested beans on the Ugandan market.
At the conclusion of the month, the volumes of beans from Kenya and Ethiopia further declined to only about 5 trucks loading 12MT each and at the same time newly harvested beans from the Central and Western regions reached Busia market. The newly harvested beans were more costly compared to the Kenyan supply. Yellow beans from Uganda were offered at Ugx.4350/kg (KSh.150) compared to Ugx.4118/kg (Ksh.142) from Kenya. New Short Nambale cost Ugx.Ugx.4060/kg (Ksh.140) while Long Nambale at Ugx.3625/kg (Ksh.125).
Cheaper maize grain was offered to the market during the opening week in the northern region especially in Lira and Kitgum at Ugx.700/kg where the harvesting season came last. Maize harvest was also reported in Kapchorwa (Sebei) where the season started at Ugx.700/kg.
Beans were received in Kampala at Ugx.4100-4200/kg depending of the quality of beans.
There was an indication of newly supplied beans arriving to the market in Kampala from Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Hoima and Mubende. Newly harvested Yellow beans were more costly at Ugx.4200-4300/kg while Short Nambale at Ugx.4200-4400/kg depending on the quality. Mixed beans from Kisoro also got to Kampala market at Ugx.2900-3000/kg. Long Nambale was offered at Ugx.3600-3900/kg at wholesale. In the same week, Irish potatoes were received from Kisoro very expensively at Ugx.290,000 per bag while supply from Kenya in smaller bags cost Ugx.90,000.
More supply of newly harvested beans reached the central market in Kampala mid-month rendering the market price cheaper for beans. On average, beans were offered at Ugx.4000-4300/kg wholesale depending on the quality and variety of beans.
In the final week, Kampala received plenty of the newly harvested beans from different production locations such as Paidha, Hoima, Masindi, Kakumiro, Kiboga and Kyankwanzi. Yellow beans were offered cheaper at Ugx.3600-3800/kg while Short Nambale at Ugx.3200/kg. Sugar beans (Masavu) were also supplied at Ugx.4000-4200/kg.
Farmgain Africa.