Located on the Horn of Africa and officially named the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s imports amounted to US$17 billion in 2023, up by 9.4% compared to $15.6 billion five years earlier in 2019.

Year over year, Ethiopia spent 3% more on imported products during 2023 than the $16.5 billion paid for Ethiopian imports starting from 2022.

Based on average exchange rates, the Ethiopian birr shrank by -87.8% against the US dollar since 2019 and depreciated by -5.5% from 2022 to 2023. Ethiopia’s weaker local currency made Ethiopian imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive when starting from the Ethiopian birr.

Ethiopia’s Most Valuable Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 82.4% of products imported by Ethiopia was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (32.7% of the Ethiopian total), India (9.6%), Kuwait (7.8%), Saudi Arabia (6.6%), United States of America (6.3%), Morocco (4%), Türkiye (3.6%), United Arab Emirates (2.8%), Egypt (2.7%), Japan (2.2%), United Kingdom (2.1%) and Indonesia (1.9%).

From a continental perspective, almost three-quarters (73.4%) of Ethiopia’s total imports by value was purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners in Europe supplied 9.9% of import purchases by Ethiopia. Another 9.6% worth of goods originated from fellow African countries, while 6.7% came from providers in North America.

Tinier percentages were sent to Ethiopia from Latin America (0.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Ethiopia’s population of 105.7 million people, its total $17 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $160 in yearly product demand from every person in the northeast African country. That dollar metric equals the per-capita average of $160 one year earlier in 2022.

Ethiopia’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Ethiopia’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Ethiopia.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$2.6 billion (15.5% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $1.9 billion (11.3%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.32 billion (7.8%)
4. Vehicles: $1.31 billion (7.7%)
5. Fertilizers: $1.2 billion (7%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $831.9 million (4.9%)
7. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $748.9 million (4.4%)
8. Pharmaceuticals: $676.2 million (4%)
9. Iron, steel: $672.2 million (3.9%)
10. Cereals: $575.6 million (3.4%)

By value, Ethiopia’s top 10 imports generated over two-thirds (69.9%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest gainer among the top imported product categories from 2022 to 2023 were mineral fuels including oil thanks to a 146.2% advance. Processed petroleum oils was a strong driver of that increase.

In second place were Ethiopian imports of machinery including computers via a 19.9% advance.

Imports of the metals iron and steel increased by 18.3% year over year.

Leading the decliners were cereals (down -57.2% from 2022), weighed down notably by Ethiopia’s lower spending on wheat and rice.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level.

Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit HTS codes perspective.

Ethiopia’s Top Imports of Mineral Fuels Including Oil

In 2023, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$2.4 billion (up 171.9% from 2022)
2. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $114.1 million (up 5.1%)
3. Petroleum oil residues: $51.5 million (up 231.6%)
4. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $22.4 million (up 50.5%)
5. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $19.7 million (down -4%)
6. Petroleum gases: $10.6 million (up 12.3%)
7. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $8.3 million (down -46.2%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $465,000 (up 57.6%)
9. Peat: $257,000 (down -24.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 231.6%), processed petroleum oils (up 171.9%) then high-temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 57.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels including oil among Ethiopian businesses and consumers.

Ethiopia’s Top Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2023, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Turbo-jets: US$405.8 million (up 317% from 2022)
2. Computers, optical readers: $196.1 million (up 47.3%)
3. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $98.1 million (down -12.8%)
4. Sort/screen/washing machinery: $77.8 million (up 43.9%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $66.6 million (up 35.7%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $61.8 million (down -22.8%)
7. Miscellaneous machinery: $57.5 million (down -2.1%)
8. Refrigerators, freezers: $56.1 million (down -7.4%)
9. Rubber/plastic article making machines: $52.8 million (up 20.6%)
10. Lifting/loading machinery: $52.7 million (up 45.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of turbo-jets (up 317%), computers including optical readers (up 47.3%) then lifting or loading machinery (up 45.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Ethiopian businesses and consumers.

Ethiopia’s Top Imported Electrical Items

In 2023, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$348.3 million (down -20.2% from 2022)
2. Electrical converters/power units: $135.7 million (up 31.2%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $133.3 million (down -33.4%)
4. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $94.7 million (up 29.8%)
5. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $91.8 million (up 60.8%)
6. Electric generating sets, converters: $65.1 million (down -21.8%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $58.5 million (up 27.1%)
8. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $46.1 million (up 6.8%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $42.9 million (up 66.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of electric motors and generators (up 66.5%), electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 60.8%), then electrical converters and power units (up 31.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electrical items among Ethiopian businesses and consumers.

Ethiopia’s Top Vehicle Imports

In 2023, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of vehicles and related product.

1. Cars: US$575.3 million (down -21.9% from 2022)
2. Trucks: $388 million (down -14.9%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $79.2 million (up 12.6%)
4. Motorcycles: $77.6 million (up 39.5%)
5. Trailers: $56.6 million (up 21.3%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $50.4 million (up 28.1%)
7. Tractors: $42.6 million (up 12%)
8. Special purpose vehicles: $29.4 million (down -38%)
9. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $7.4 million (up 47.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of motorcycle parts or accessories (up 47.9%), motorcycles (up 39.5%) then public-transport vehicles (up 28.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Ethiopian businesses and consumers.

See also Ethiopia’s Top 10 Exports, China’s Top Trading Partners, India’s Top Trading Partners and Top African Export Countries

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on August 31, 2024

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on August 31, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 31, 2024

Wikipedia, Shrimp – Ethiopia. Accessed on August 31, 2024