Xifres de comerç exterior d'Etiòpia

Foreign Trade in Figures

Ethiopia's trade openness is not fully realized, with a foreign trade-to-GDP ratio of 24% (World Bank, latest data available). It is a member of the IGAD and the COMESA but has not yet joined the free trade zone. Ethiopia has long been in the process of joining the WTO, and as part of this effort, the government is restructuring customs tariffs to rationalize investment opportunities, including introducing lower duties on raw materials and semi-finished products. Additionally, Ethiopia signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and established special economic zones offering tax incentives and customs duties exemptions to investors. The country's primary exports include coffee (49.1%), other vegetables (7.5%), cut flowers and flower buds (7.4%), other oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (6.8%), and dried leguminous vegetables (5.6%). Major imports consist of palm oil (10.8%), wheat and meslin (5.2%), mineral or chemical fertilizers (4.7%), and motor cars and other vehicles (4.5%) (data from Comtrade 2022).

According to Comtrade data for 2022, Ethiopia's main export destinations were the United States (10.8%), Saudi Arabia (8.7%), Somalia (8.6%), Germany (8.4%), and the Netherlands (7.0%), while imports primarily originated from China (30.0%), India (14.3%), the United States (6.7%), Turkey (4.5%), and Morocco (4.2%). Peace agreements with Eritrea are expected to boost economic relations between the two countries, while the water-sharing agreement with Egypt and Sudan over the Nile River dam will alleviate tensions and foster economic cooperation among neighboring nations. However, the U.S. decision to remove Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade program due to the conflict in the Tigray region and alleged human rights violations is likely to have negative repercussions on trade.

Ethiopia's trade balance remains structurally in deficit, a trend driven by the country's investment-led economy, which incentivizes imports. Weather phenomena also influence the trade balance, sometimes necessitating grain imports during droughts despite Ethiopia's status as a significant agricultural producer. In 2022, goods imports totaled USD 18.6 billion, while exports reached USD 3.9 billion (a 16.8% increase in imports and a 0.5% increase in exports year-on-year). Additionally, Ethiopia spent USD 7.4 billion on imports of services, while exports generated USD 7 billion (data WTO). The country's trade balance, according to the World Bank, was negative by 10.1% of GDP, up from 9% the previous year.