Ethiopia exceeds coffee export targets, earns US$908M in six months 

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, has surpassed its coffee export targets, generating US$908 million in revenue over the past six months, according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA).  

The achievement exceeded the initial goal of US$714 million and marks a significant milestone in the country’s coffee sector. 

Deputy Director General of ECTA, Shafi Umer, stated that Ethiopia exported over 200,000 tons of coffee during the period, attributing the success to increased production and productivity driven by comprehensive reforms.  

These reforms have focused on improving the quality, production, and overall performance of Ethiopia’s coffee sector, which has played a vital role in boosting export earnings. 

The six-month target had projected the export of 133,000 tons of coffee, but the country outperformed both the revenue and volume expectations.  

For the current fiscal year, Ethiopia aims to generate US$2 billion in revenue by exporting more than 400,000 tons of coffee. 

To meet this ambitious goal, ECTA is promoting specialty coffee, which commands a premium price of up to US$5,500 per ton compared to US$2,800 for commercial coffee. 

Additionally, ECTA is working to expand Ethiopia’s coffee market into new regions while strengthening existing trade relationships with the U.S., Germany, Japan, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia. 

Concurrently, the Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union has secured €1.79 million from the sale of carbon credits. General Manager Dejene Dadi reported that the union sold 97,222 tons of carbon credits between 2022 and 2023 through the international “Gold Standard” trading system. 

The revenue was generated by encouraging farmers to adopt renewable energy sources and fuel-efficient stoves, reducing carbon emissions. Of the earnings, 70 percent has been distributed as dividends to benefit 7,250 households directly. 

The Union plans to expand its efforts to reduce deforestation and double its income from carbon credit sales.  

These initiatives align with Ethiopia’s long-term objective of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and meeting the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which takes effect in December 2025. 

The EUDR mandates that companies importing certain commodities, including coffee, must prove that their products are deforestation-free. 

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