Ethiopia has reported record earnings from coffee exports, generating USD 1.87 billion over the ten months to April 2025 a historic high for the Horn of Africa nation, and a significant milestone for its most prized commodity.
The figures, disclosed by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), represent an 87 percent increase in export revenue compared to the same period last year, with shipment volumes rising by 70 percent to 354,302 metric tonnes. The surge marks a striking rebound in one of the world’s oldest coffee economies, powered by targeted domestic reforms and favourable conditions in global markets.
Adugna Debela, Director-General of ECTA, attributed the strong performance to Ethiopia’s national coffee development strategy, which includes efforts to improve traceability, enhance quality control, and expand access to international buyers through digital auction platforms and bilateral trade agreements.
Ethiopia’s top export destinations remained stable, with Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States leading in volume and value. Demand from traditional partners has been bolstered by shifting consumer preferences toward sustainably sourced, single-origin Arabica beans qualities for which Ethiopian coffee is globally renowned.
As the ancestral home of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia occupies a unique place in the global supply chain. But recent gains come against a backdrop of heightened volatility in international commodity markets, where coffee prices have been buffeted by climate risks, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions in other major producing regions such as Brazil and Colombia.
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) recently noted a sustained uptick in global Arabica prices, driven by tighter inventories and a post-pandemic resurgence in out-of-home consumption. Meanwhile, specialty coffee consumption is growing in Asia and the Middle East, creating new opportunities for African exporters.
Despite macroeconomic headwinds including a persistent foreign exchange shortage and high inflation at home Ethiopia’s coffee sector has benefited from a weakening local currency, which has made its exports more competitive on the international stage.
With two months remaining in the Ethiopian fiscal year, authorities are optimistic that the upward trajectory will continue. If current trends hold, Ethiopia is on track to surpass the two billion US dollars mark in annual coffee earnings for the first time.
(BirrMetrics)
African intelligence officials visit Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam
A group of African intelligence chiefs visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Wednesday in a public relations effort by Ethiopia.
13 intelligence officials were taken to GERD while visiting the country for the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, held in Addis Ababa from Sunday to Thursday.
The officials were briefed on GERD’s development, which, according to Deputy Director of the project Ephraim Hailay Mikkel, is already producing electricity and is set to generate 2,600 megawatts of power, up from its current production of 1,800 megawatts.
Tazer Gebre Qezabihir, the Deputy Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, claimed the visit was part of efforts by the Ethiopian government to combat “disinformation” about the project.
He said that the project was an example of how African countries can develop mega projects, according to the Ethiopian news agency Fana.
Downstream countries, such as Sudan and Egypt in particular, however fear that the controversial project will deprive them of life-giving Nile water, exposing their populations to drought and famine.
The Nile river provides over 90 percent of Egypt’s water and construction of the Ethiopian dam began in 2011, when Egypt was preoccupied with internal politics following the ouster of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Years of negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over the project have largely stalled, with Egypt calling its water security a “red line”. In the past, Egyptian leaders have threatened military action if Ethiopia were to proceed with the construction of a dam on the Nile River
The visit from security officials is the latest in Ethiopia’s efforts to promote GERD, with the inclusion of the project in February’s Nile Day celebrations, which sparked condemnation from Egypt.
Several high ranking officials from African countries, including the water ministers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan, visited GERD during the celebrations.
(The New Arab)
Ethiopia, Kenya set to launch cross-border trade under AfCFTA framework
Ethiopia and Kenya have set to launch a cross-border trade shortly aiming to facilitate a simplified trade regime that will enable communities at the border to get access to essential commodities.
This follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two neighbors signed last April to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wondimu Filate, Public Relations and Communication Affairs Director at the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) told reporters on Monday in a briefing.
“The cross- border trade will take place across their common border covering 50 kilometers within Ethiopian territory and 100 kilometers in the territory of Kenya,” Filate said.
He said livestock animals, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, edible oil, drinks, leather and leather products, foot wear, clothes will be traded at the new cross-border trade area.
The new cross-border trade is expected to significantly unleash business operations, discourage contraband and strengthen peace, security and people to people relations of the two countries.
Ethiopia and Kenya officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last April to enhance collaboration and fast-track the implementation of the AfCFTA under a Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
The agreement aims to boost cross-border trade and foster economic integration between the two neighboring countries.
The bilateral deal was formalized during a high-level meeting in Mombasa, where both governments were represented by senior officials who emphasized the importance of improving trade conditions for communities living along the Kenya-Ethiopia border, particularly in Moyale, where traders have faced persistent challenges.
The agreement marked the culmination of two years of intense negotiations and followed the third bilateral meeting between the two countries on the STR, held in Mombasa, Kenya.
(APA NEWS)
New Investment Handbook to Catalyze Private Sector Engagement in Ethiopia’s Livestock, Fisheries Sector
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), officially launched a new Investment Handbook designed to stimulate private sector engagement within Ethiopia’s livestock and fisheries industries. This Handbook represents a key achievement in the government’s initiative to transform these sectors into robust drivers of economic growth, food and nutrition security, and sustainable employment opportunities.
Ethiopia is home to the largest livestock population in Africa, with 70.2 million cattle, 42.9 million sheep, 52.5 million goats, and 8.1 million camels. These numbers reflect enormous untapped potential in livestock and fisheries production.
The Investment Handbook outlines a wide array of viable investment options, quality standards, enabling policies, and support services tailored to Ethiopia’s unique agro-ecological context. The Handbook responds to the country’s 10-Year Agricultural Transformation Plan, which aims to substantially increase production of milk (to 28.4 billion liters), meat (1.7 million tons), eggs (5.5 billion units), chicken meat (106 thousand tons), honey (152,000 tons), and fish (260,000 tons) by 2030.
Key objectives of the Handbook include presenting a spectrum of investment opportunities in livestock and fisheries; promoting innovative and sustainable investment approaches; defining viable business models and standards; mapping institutional support structures; and attracting both domestic and foreign investors through clarity and transparency.
The government has created a strong enabling environment to attract private investment in the livestock and fisheries sectors. Key initiatives supporting investment include a robust legal framework, streamlined investment facilitation via a one-stop service, a functional movable collateral registry, access to Development Bank of Ethiopia financing, and efficient land allocation through regional governments. Furthermore, investors receive significant incentives such as income tax holidays, duty-free import of capital goods and raw materials for export-oriented industries, investment credit support, competitive land lease terms, and customs duty exemptions for development vehicles.
The Handbook targets a wide range of stakeholders including private investors, policymakers, regional and federal implementing bodies, development partners, and support institutions. It equips them with the tools and information necessary to mobilize investment, forge partnerships, and build sustainable businesses in the livestock and fisheries sub-sectors.
(Reporter)
Ethiopia secures $1.6 bn energy, minerals deals
Ethiopia secured more than $1.6 billion worth of investment deals – most of these with Chinese firms – in its energy and minerals sectors at the end of the Invest in Ethiopia High-Level Business Forum 2025, the Ministry of Finance of the East African country said in a statement.
Ethiopia is currently looking to enact reforms and boost its economy via private-led growth, including by attracting investments in its natural resources.
Last year, the country reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $3.4 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement to support Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform (HGER) Agenda to address macroeconomic imbalances, restore external debt sustainability, and lay the foundations for higher, inclusive, and private sector-led growth.
At the closing ceremony of the business forum in the capital city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia signed on Tuesday a number of investment deals.
China’s Huawei Mining Processing Company Limited agreed to a planned investment totaling $500 million for mineral exploration, processing, and the development of a special economic zone focused on minerals.
Sequa Mining and Processing PLC – a joint venture between Ethiopian and Chinese companies – plans about $600 million in investment to develop coal mining projects in the East African country.
Hanergy New Energy Technology Company Limited & Jandu signed a deal for a planned investment of $360 million to establish a solar cell manufacturer in Ethiopia.
Toyo Solar Manufacturing Development PLC signed an agreement to invest $14 million to further increase its Ethiopian solar cell capacity.
Additionally, Sesar Energy Advancing Solutions signed a deal for a planned investment of approximately $100 million in the first phase and an additional $150 million in the second phase to support local solar energy development.
Ethiopia is known for having deposits of coal, opal, gemstones, kaolin, iron ore, soda ash, and tantalum, but only gold is currently mined in significant quantities.
