ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia has announced that its coffee exports generated a record US$1.43 billion in revenue during the 2023/24 fiscal year.
According to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), the nation exported 298,500 tons of coffee over the fiscal year that ended on July 7, 2024.
June proved to be a particularly successful month, with Ethiopia exporting 46,000 tons of coffee and earning US$218 million, the highest monthly revenue on record.
This marks a significant increase from the previous fiscal year when the country earned US$1.3 billion from exporting approximately 240,000 tons of coffee. The data reveals a 20 percent rise in the volume of coffee exported in the 2023/24 fiscal year compared to the previous year.
Ethiopia, known as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, remains one of Africa’s largest coffee producers and exporters.
The country’s coffee is celebrated globally for its diverse and rich flavors, ranging from winy to fruity and chocolatey, making it highly sought after worldwide.
Major importers of Ethiopian coffee include Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the United States, Germany, Japan, and China
Recently, Ethiopia has been expanding its international coffee market, with new buyers from the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and China contributing significantly to its export revenues.
These record earnings are a milestone in Ethiopia’s broader strategy to substantially increase coffee export revenues over the next 15 years.
The Comprehensive Ethiopian Coffee Strategy and Implementation Roadmap aim to boost export revenues to between US$3.6 billion and US$4.6 billion by 2033, alongside a 160 percent increase in export volume and significant growth in farmer incomes.
To reach these ambitious goals, ECTA is focusing on research and development of climate-resilient and disease-resistant coffee breeds, improving agronomy practices, and enhancing professionalism throughout the supply chain.
As the fifth-largest coffee producer globally and the largest in Africa, Ethiopia boasts a wide range of genetic varieties and is renowned for the delicate flavors and aromas of its specialty coffees.
Additionally, Ethiopia is taking strategic steps to align its coffee sector with the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR targets commodities, including coffee, timber, beef, palm oil, soy, cocoa, and rubber, ensuring they are deforestation-free when placed on the EU market.
This regulation aims to reduce the European Union’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia unveiled a National Action Plan to comply with the EUDR, which identifies opportunities and threats for the country’s coffee sector.
The plan outlines specific actions to be implemented over the next three years, emphasizing collaboration between the Ethiopian government and the EU to ensure sustainable coffee production and export practices.
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