Ethiopia’s coffee industry has reached a historic export milestone according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) through the generation of US$2 billion in revenue during the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The $2 billion target was set by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during an event held in October 2024. On Wednesday 14 May it was announced the nation had earned $1.868 billion from exporting 354,302 tonnes of coffee to the global market during the first 10 months of the fiscal year, which runs from 8 July 2024 to 7 July 2025.
ECTA has previously announced a record export figure of $1.5 billion in April off the back of a total of 299,067 tonnes of coffee exported.
Saudi Arabia, Germany, and the United States (US) stand as Ethiopia’s largest coffee export markets, and combine to form just over 50 per cent of its export revenue this fiscal year.
This historic period coffee export marks a 70 per cent year-on-year increase in volume and 87 per cent year-on-year growth in revenue compared to the same period last year.
ECTA Director General Dr. Agunda Debella announced the achievement on ECTA’s official social media platforms, stating “dear coffee stakeholders, today marks a significant milestone for our coffee sector. We have reached 2 billion USD from coffee export”.
The coffee sector currently stands as a key pillar in the ongoing transformation and progression of Ethiopia’s traditionally agriculture-led economy.
Over the past five years it has doubled its annual coffee output through the introduction of new technologies and sustainable farming initiatives, while aiming to increase support for the nation’s smallholder farms.
The US Department of Agriculture lists Ethiopia as Africa’s largest coffee producer, and the fifth largest in the world with five per cent of global market share.
