Ethiopia earned $878.5 million from coffee exports during the first quarter of its current fiscal year, marking a 15% increase compared with the same period last year.
According to Africanews, citing the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), the country exported more than 131,000 tonnes of coffee during the three-month period.
Strong international demand helped boost earnings, with China emerging as one of Ethiopia’s leading coffee markets.
Coffee exports record strong growth
Ethiopia’s coffee sector recorded higher export earnings during the first quarter of the fiscal year.
The country shipped more than 131,000 tonnes of coffee to international buyers, generating $878.5 million in revenue.
This represents a 15% increase in earnings compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year.
However, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority said the results remained slightly below its original projections.
The authority did not provide further details about the size of the shortfall in the available report.
Nevertheless, the figures highlight coffee’s continued importance to Ethiopia’s export economy.
China becomes major coffee buyer
China played an important role in Ethiopia’s coffee export performance.
According to ECTA, Ethiopia exported more than 15,000 tonnes of coffee to China during the quarter.
These shipments generated more than $100 million in revenue.
As a result, China ranked as Ethiopia’s third-largest coffee export destination.
Saudi Arabia and Germany remained the country’s two leading markets.
The figures underline China’s growing importance as a destination for Ethiopian coffee.
Meanwhile, demand from established markets continues to support the country’s international coffee trade.
Ethiopia maintains strong coffee heritage
Ethiopia is widely regarded as the birthplace of Arabica coffee.
The country has a long history of coffee cultivation and remains one of Africa’s leading coffee producers and exporters.
Coffee also plays an important role in Ethiopian culture and everyday life.
Beyond its cultural significance, the industry supports farming communities and contributes to export revenue.
International buyers value Ethiopian coffee for its diverse varieties and distinctive flavour profiles.
These qualities help the country maintain a presence in global coffee markets.
Export earnings remain below target
Despite the increase in revenue, Ethiopia’s coffee export performance did not fully meet official expectations.
The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority said earnings fell slightly short of its projections.
However, the available figures do not explain whether the shortfall resulted from export volumes, prices or other market conditions.
The authority also did not provide a revised forecast for the remainder of the fiscal year.
For now, the first-quarter results show continued growth in Ethiopia’s coffee export earnings.
China’s position among the country’s leading buyers also highlights the importance of international markets to the sector’s performance.