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Ethiopia
(information)
Population as of 2020: 114.9 million 12 of 193
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Region: East Africa
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $149.7 billion 59 of 193
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Top Exports
Ethiopia exported approximately **US$3.36 billion** worth of goods in 2024, with exports heavily concentrated in agriculture, especially coffee.
| Rank | Export Product | Estimated Export Value (USD) |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------: |
| 1 | Coffee | **~US$1.49 billion** |
| 2 | Sesame seeds and other oilseeds | **~US$395 million** |
| 3 | Cut flowers and ornamental plants | **~US$330 million** |
| 4 | Dried vegetables and pulses | **~US$190 million** |
| 5 | Knit apparel and clothing | **~US$182 million** |
| 6 | Non-knit apparel and clothing | **~US$146 million** |
| 7 | Gold | **~US$120–180 million** |
| 8 | Electrical energy (power exports) | **~US$84 million** |
| 9 | Mineral fuels and petroleum products | **~US$86 million** |
| 10 | Machinery and equipment | **~US$67 million** |
| 11 | Aircraft and spacecraft parts | **~US$60 million** |
| 12 | Paper yarn and woven textile fabrics | **~US$47 million** |
| 13 | Meat and edible meat products | **~US$63 million** |
| 14 | Soybeans | **~US$60–90 million** |
| 15 | Live animals | **~US$50–70 million** |
| 16 | Spices (other than coffee-related exports) | **~US$40–60 million** |
| 17 | Raw hides and skins | **~US$20–30 million** |
| 18 | Leather products | **~US$15–25 million** |
| 19 | Animal feed and food-industry residues | **~US$20–30 million** |
| 20 | Miscellaneous agricultural exports | **~US$20–40 million** |
*Values are rounded estimates compiled from Ethiopia's 2024 export categories and major product groups.*
Key Takeaways
* ☕ **Coffee is king**
* Coffee alone accounted for about **44–45% of Ethiopia's total exports**, generating nearly **US$1.5 billion** in export revenue.
* 🌱 **Agriculture dominates**
* Coffee, oilseeds, flowers, vegetables, livestock products, and spices accounted for more than three-quarters of export earnings.
* 🌹 **Ethiopia is one of the world's leading flower exporters**
* Cut flowers and ornamental plants generated over **US$330 million** in exports.
* ⚡ **Electricity exports are emerging**
* Ethiopia exports hydroelectric power to neighboring countries and this sector is expected to grow further with expanded generation capacity.
* 🏭 **Manufacturing remains relatively small**
* Apparel, textiles, and leather products are growing but still trail agricultural exports by a wide margin.
* ⚠️ **Highly concentrated export structure**
* Coffee, sesame/oilseeds, and flowers account for a majority of export earnings, making Ethiopia vulnerable to commodity-price fluctuations.
Top Importers of Ethiopia's Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Main Imports from Ethiopia |
| ---- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | Coffee, livestock, agricultural products |
| 2 | United States | Coffee, apparel, flowers, agricultural products |
| 3 | Netherlands | Coffee, cut flowers, vegetables |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | Gold, coffee, agricultural products |
| 5 | Somalia | Vegetables, food products, manufactured goods |
| 6 | India | Coffee, oilseeds, agricultural commodities |
| 7 | Germany | Coffee, flowers, textiles |
| 8 | China | Oilseeds, minerals, agricultural products |
| 9 | South Korea | Coffee and agricultural commodities |
| 10 | Japan | Coffee, flowers, specialty agricultural products |
Key Patterns
* ☕ **Coffee drives many of the top destinations**
* Ethiopia earned about **US$1.5 billion from coffee exports in 2024**, making it by far the country's most valuable export. Major coffee buyers include the United States, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands.
* 🌹 **The Netherlands is Ethiopia's flower gateway**
* Much of Ethiopia's cut-flower industry exports through Dutch distribution networks serving Europe.
* 🥇 **Gold has become increasingly important**
* Gold exports have boosted trade with countries such as the UAE and Switzerland, although rankings vary by dataset.
* 🌍 **Exports are split across multiple regions**
* Ethiopia's exports go primarily to:
* Asia (~51%)
* Europe (~23%)
* Africa (~14%)
* North America (~10%)
* 🌱 **Agriculture remains dominant**
* Coffee, oilseeds, flowers, vegetables, livestock products, and apparel account for most export earnings.
