Addis Ababa, November 29th (Xinhua) – Ethiopian coffee looks forward to deepening its presence in the Chinese market
In November, Ethiopian coffee entered its mature stage, with plump coffee fruits densely distributed on the branches. Local villagers worked overtime to pick coffee fruits… A lively agricultural landscape unfolded on the East African plateau.
Ethiopia is known as the birthplace of Arabica coffee and is the largest producer of Arabica coffee in Africa, with an annual coffee production of approximately 600000 tons. The country’s economy has long been closely linked to its abundant coffee resources. Official data shows that over 25 million people in the country are engaged in coffee production, processing, and sales related work.
According to data from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, in the completed fiscal year 2024-2025, Ethiopia’s coffee exports amounted to approximately 469000 tons, a year-on-year increase of approximately 170000 tons. The export value reached a historical high of 2.65 billion US dollars, accounting for about one-third of the country’s total exports.
While coffee farmers are busy, Ethiopian coffee exporter Tesfaye Gabru is shuttling through various coffee producing areas in the south, searching for the new season’s premium coffee beans. Thanks to the strong demand in the Chinese market in recent years, Gabroo’s business has become increasingly prosperous. The AWO coffee company has expanded its business from exporting coffee beans more than a decade ago to coffee cultivation, processing, and finished product exports.
We have a 14 hectare coffee farm and a self built roasting factory. Last year, the company exported about 140 tons of green coffee beans and 20 tons of finished coffee products to China, with an annual growth rate of about 10%. Currently, about 90% of the company’s coffee products are sold to China, “said Gabru. In addition to coffee beans produced on its own farm, Gabroo also purchases coffee beans from local coffee farmers to meet the growing export demand.
The development of AWO Coffee Company has become a vivid epitome of Ethiopian coffee’s deep cultivation in the Chinese market. Shafi Umer, Deputy Director of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, recently stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that the Chinese market is growing rapidly and has now become the fourth largest importer of Ethiopian coffee.
We are very pleased to see that more and more Chinese consumers, especially young people, are falling in love with drinking coffee, “Umeil said.” The number of Chinese buyers directly importing coffee from Ethiopia continues to grow
With the help of exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo and digital empowerment through e-commerce platforms, Ethiopian coffee is accelerating its “fragrance” in China. While helping coffee farmers benefit, it also allows Chinese consumers to taste Ethiopian style coffee at more favorable prices.
Ethiopian coffee producer Hadro Company specializes in coffee beans and coffee powder. The director of the company’s market development department, Mubarak Ahmed, told reporters that China is the third largest export market for the company’s coffee products. “Chinese traders often visit the company on site, and platforms such as the CIIE and Canton Fair provide us with excellent opportunities. We hope to bring more high-quality coffee to China in the future.