Coffee, exports and trade
Ethiopia's trade with the world: coffee, gold and other exports, imports, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the bid to join the WTO.
Related: Birr exchange rate and forex · Fuel and food prices · IMF, debt and economic reform · Foreign investment and privatisation · Banks and the stock exchange
Latest stories
Ethiopia sets WTO accession working party meeting for November
Ethiopia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation will face its next test at a Working Party meeting on November 9 and 10, 2026. Trade negotiators previously missed their target to complete accession at the 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, in March.
- Ethiopia's WTO accession working party meeting is scheduled for November 9 and 10, 2026.
- The meeting follows missed targets from the 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, in March.
Ethiopia to electrify Djibouti trade corridor with multi-million-dollar EV plan
Ethiopia is preparing a proposed multi-million-dollar electric-vehicle infrastructure project to electrify its trade corridor to Djibouti, aiming to reduce reliance on imported fuel and cut transport costs, Capital reports. Ethiopian Electric Utility signed an agreement with Huawei, China Road and Bridge Corporation and Beijing Forever Technology to study charging for heavy trucks on the corridor, EBR reports; chief executive Getu Geremew said the plan targets freight rather than private cars.
Ethiopia rolls out digital coffee tracking for 1.4 million producers ahead of EU rules
The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority has deployed a national platform that tracks coffee from farm to export, covering 1.4 million producers, as European buyers demand proof of origin under the EU Deforestation Regulation, EBR reports. In Addis Fortune, Wondwossen Mezlekia argues that farmers may still lose out when origin cannot be verified, because several separate tracking systems cover the same coffee.
Kenya's annual inflation hits 7.3 percent in October, highest in three years
Kenya's annual inflation rate rose to 7.3 percent in October 2026, up from 6.8 percent in September, marking a three-year high. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics attributed the increase to higher food, transport, and housing costs.
- Kenya's annual inflation rate rose to 7.3 percent in October 2026.
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded an annual inflation of 10.2 percent.
- Transport inflation reached 17.1 percent according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Namibia disowns leaked memo on Ethiopian Airlines managing proposed national carrier
Namibia's Ministry of Works and Transport disowned a leaked memorandum suggesting it agreed to give Ethiopian Airlines executive control of a proposed national carrier. The ministry described the talks as exploratory with no binding commitments.
- Namibia's Ministry of Works and Transport disowned a leaked memorandum regarding Ethiopian Airlines.
- The reported proposal involved Ethiopian Airlines seeking the right to appoint key executives for a proposed national carrier.
- Talks were held in Addis Ababa on August 21 and 22 between Namibian officials and Mesfin Tasew.
Allied Gold begins wet commissioning at Kurmuk mine, targets first gold
Allied Gold Corporation has commenced wet commissioning at its flagship Kurmuk Gold Mine in western Ethiopia, marking a major step in transitioning from construction to production. The company expects to introduce ore into the processing circuit within days, targeting its first gold pour shortly thereafter.
Ministry says over 453,000 hectares covered in bean cultivation
Agriculture Minister Adugna Gaba has announced that 453,748 hectares of land have been cultivated with beans in highland and midland areas for the 2018/19 production season, surpassing the initial target of 421,973 hectares.
Ethiopia overtakes Tanzania as top LDC services exporter, WTO-OECD report says
Ethiopia has emerged as the largest commercial services exporter among the world's least-developed countries, according to a joint report by the WTO and the OECD. The country accounted for 17 percent of the group's total services exports in 2024, marking a significant milestone.