Ethiopia’s coffee industry is recording some of its best performance in years. New data shared at the National Coffee Exhibition and Recognition Program, held at the Science Museum in Addis Ababa, shows that coffee production, exports, and foreign-exchange earnings have all improved sharply.
Top government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and Minister of Trade and Regional Cooperation Kassahun Gofe (PhD), said the progress comes from major reforms, better farm management, and improvements across the coffee supply chain.
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Record Coffee Exports
For the first time, Ethiopia exported 470,000 tons of coffee, earning over USD 2.6 billion in the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year.
Officials now aim even higher: 600,000 tons of exports and more than USD 3 billion in revenue this year.
This growth follows years of investment. Over the past seven years:
- 9 billion new coffee seedlings were planted
- 700,000 hectares of old coffee farms were renovated
These efforts have boosted productivity and helped stabilize supply.
Stronger Productivity Across Regions
Average national coffee yields have risen from 6–7 quintals per hectare to 9 quintals.
Model farmers in different regions are now producing 15–20 quintals per hectare.
On some modern farms using advanced technology, yields have reached up to 60 quintals per hectare, showing the strong impact of modernization.
Officials say this progress proves that Ethiopia can strengthen its place as one of the world’s leading coffee producers.
Reforms Make Ethiopia More Competitive
According to Minister Kassahun Gofe, Ethiopia’s broader economic reforms are helping key export sectors, especially coffee. These reforms aim to improve production, increase market access, and support more value-added processing.
He encouraged farmers and exporters to prepare for higher global standards as Ethiopia becomes more active in international trade systems.
What’s Next for the Coffee Sector
Dr. Adugna Debela, Director General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, said recent reforms have improved coffee quality, consistency, and global demand. While coffee remains Ethiopia’s most important export, he added that tea and spices are also showing strong potential.
Source: Qahwa World
