The world’s 58th wealthiest country in terms of its overall Gross Domestic Product, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia imported US$14.1 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -9.3% reduction from $15.6 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Ethiopia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

A landlocked nation located in the Africa’s northeast quadrant and occupying a portion of the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia shares its southern land borders with Kenya. Ethiopia also has common land borders interfacing with South Sudan to its west, Sudan to its northwest, Eritrea and Djibouti to its north, Somaliland to its northeast and Somalia to its east.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Ethiopian imports during 2020 for each of Ethiopia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for well over two-thirds (71.3%) of total Ethiopian import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Ethiopian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $4.2 billion or 29.5% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.1% of Ethiopia’s imports from the mainland China.

Machinery: $819.8 million
Electronic equipment: $789.3 million
Iron or steel products: $313.3 million
Vehicles: $232 million
Plastics: $221.2 million
Man-made filaments: $184.9 million
Iron and steel: $179.5 million
Rubber: $157.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $146.7 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $94.2 million
Footwear: $87.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $80.7 million
Aluminum: $78.9 million
Other chemical goods: $61.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $61 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 154.2% gain in revenue, man-made filaments (up 27.4%), items made from iron or steel (up 17%), rubber (up 16.2%), electronic equipment (up 15.9%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 14.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -36.5%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -20.7%) then machinery (down -19.4%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $1.5 billion or 10.5% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 11.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.1% of Ethiopia’s imports from India.

Sugar: $314.6 million
Cereals: $284.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $193.1 million
Vehicles: $145.8 million
Machinery: $65.1 million
Iron or steel products: $62.1 million
Aluminum: $52.9 million
Iron and steel: $52 million
Electronic equipment: $50.8 million
Plastics: $34.5 million
Other chemical goods: $31.1 million
Paper: $22.6 million
Rubber: $18.2 million
Man-made filaments: $16.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $12.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from India under the aluminum product category via a 305.2% gain in revenue, sugar (up 77.2%), cereals (up 74.3%), man-made filaments (up 65.5%), items made from iron or steel (up 40.9%) and pharmaceuticals (up 36.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -55), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (down -55%), rubber (down -38%), paper (down -34.4%), machinery (down -24%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (down -20%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Turkey

In 2020, Turkey’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $803.2 million or 5.7% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 12.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94% of Ethiopia’s imports from Turkey.

Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $353.4 million
Iron and steel: $242 million
Machinery: $47.3 million
Electronic equipment: $28.2 million
Plastics: $14 million
Iron or steel products: $9 million
Vegetables: $8.9 million
Copper: $8.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $8.3 million
Vehicles: $6.6 million
Milling products: $6 million
Other food preparations: $5.8 million
Textile floor coverings: $5.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $5.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $5.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Turkey under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 209.5% gain in revenue, milling products (up 118.7%), vegetables (up 117.3%), mineral fuels including oil (up 106.7%), furniture, lighting and signs (up 34%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 32.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -66.7%), copper (down -49%), plastics as a material (down -46.1%) then iron and steel as materials (down -32.8%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Ethiopia amounted to $720.5 million or 5.1% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.1% of Ethiopia’s imports from America.

Cereals: $220.5 million
Machinery: $199.4 million
Electronic equipment: $43.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $32.6 million
Vegetables: $29.5 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $28.5 million
Other chemical goods: $27.2 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $25.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $20 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $14.5 million
Vehicles: $13.4 million
Other food preparations: $12.5 million
Plastics: $10 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $8.9 million
Iron or steel products: $6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from the United States under the vegetable or fruit preparations product category via a 5,562% gain in revenue, mineral fuels including oil (up 195.3%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 90.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 56%), items made from iron or steel (up 46.5%) and cereals (up 34.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -68%), machinery (down -37.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -34%), electronic equipment (down -30.9%), cereal or milk preparations (down -22.8%) and vehicles (down -19.5%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Ethiopia amounted to $671.5 million or 5.1% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 47.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.3% of Ethiopia’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Mineral fuels including oil: $391.1 million
Fertilizers: $62.9 million
Plastics: $58.3 million
Vegetables: $27.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $15.3 million
Other chemical goods: $10.7 million
Electronic equipment: $9.8 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $9.6 million
Aluminum: $7.6 million
Machinery: $7.4 million
Sugar: $5.8 million
Paper: $5.6 million
Copper: $4.9 million
Iron or steel products: $4.7 million
Milling products: $4.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from the United Arab Emirates under the sugar product category via a 4,588% gain in revenue, fertilizers (up 286.6%), milling products (up 267.3%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 202.7%), mineral fuels including oil (up 106.2%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 23.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were copper (down -57.3%), plastics as a material (down -24.1%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -17%), machinery (down -12.3%), items made from iron or steel (down -10.9%) and aluminum (down -9.9%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Kuwait

In 2020, Kuwait’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $585.9 million or 4.1% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -68.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the major product categories listed below represent 100% of Ethiopia’s imports from Kuwait.

Mineral fuels including oil: $585.1 million
Plastics: $582,000
Other chemical goods: $102,000
Cereal, milk preparations: $39,000
Sugar: $27,000
Medical, technical equipment: $7,000
Glass: $6,000
Other textiles, worn clothing: $5,000
Electronic equipment: $1,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Kuwait under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 1,850% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 155%) and sugar (up 107.7%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $510.5 million or 3.6% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -24.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.8% of Ethiopia’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $418.9 million
Machinery: $36.6 million
Iron and steel: $15.6 million
Rubber: $12 million
Electronic equipment: $11.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $8.4 million
Iron or steel products: $1.5 million
Man-made staple fibers: $979,000
Stone, plaster, cement: $957,000
Glass: $836,000
Organic chemicals: $622,000
Plastics: $620,000
Other chemical goods: $486,000
Base metal tools, cutlery: $376,000
Paper: $277,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Japan under the iron and steel as materials product category via a 291.6% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 256%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were paper (down -58.7%), plastics as a material (down -41.5%), machinery (down -28.8%), vehicles (down -28.4%), base metal tools or cutlery (down -27.4%) and man-made staple fibers (down -19.3%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $441.8 million or 3.1% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1,307% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.9% of Ethiopia’s imports from Singapore.

Mineral fuels including oil: $423.6 million
Machinery: $7.4 million
Other chemical goods: $3.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $1.7 million
Electronic equipment: $1.5 million
Plastics: $1.3 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $976,000
Sugar: $336,000
Aluminum: $328,000
Perfumes, cosmetics: $189,000
Paper: $188,000
Knit or crochet clothing: $137,000
Ceramic products: $91,000
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $83,000
Organic chemicals: $78,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Singapore under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 16,917% gain in revenue, ceramic products (up 4,450%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 1,184%) then machinery (up 132.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -80.3%), electronic equipment (down -73.4%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -58.8%), paper (down -53.9%), medical or technical equipment (down -47.7%) and plastics as a material (down -40.9%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Saudi

In 2020, Saudi Arabia’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $362 million or 2.6% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.7% of Ethiopia’s imports from Saudi Arabia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $146.6 million
Plastics: $132.3 million
Fertilizers: $38.3 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $6.5 million
Sugar: $4.8 million
Organic chemicals: $3.8 million
Fruits, nuts: $3.7 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $3.3 million
Paper: $3 million
Pharmaceuticals: $2.7 million
Other chemical goods: $2.4 million
Stone, plaster, cement: $1.8 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.6 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $1.5 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $1.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Saudi Arabia under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 16,050% gain in revenue, soaps, lubricants and candles (up 1,536%), sugar (up 99.3%), organic chemicals (up 86.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 70%) and stone, plaster and cement (up 36.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were paper (down -53.5%), mineral fuels including oil (down -41.2%), cereal or milk preparations (down -27.2%), vegetable or fruit preparations (down -26.5%), fertilizers (down -26.3%) and pharmaceuticals (down -20.3%).

Ethiopia’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Ethiopia amounted to $322.7 million or 2.3% of overall Ethiopian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 23% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.6% of Ethiopia’s imports from Indonesia.

Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $207.5 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $31.4 million
Paper: $26.6 million
Organic chemicals: $11.2 million
Vehicles: $9.1 million
Electronic equipment: $8.4 million
Other chemical goods: $6.6 million
Man-made staple fibers: $6.1 million
Machinery: $2.4 million
Woodpulp: $2 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $1.7 million
Plastics: $1.6 million
Rubber: $1.5 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $971,000
Man-made filaments: $900,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Ethiopian imports from Indonesia under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 112.2% gain in revenue, coffee, tea and spices (up 42%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 30.2%) and vehicles (up 20.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Ethiopia’s top 15 imported products were man-made filaments (down -57.9%), organic chemicals (down -53.7%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -42.5%), paper (down -39.3%), plastics as materials (down -33.1%) and woodpulp (down -27.5%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 100 Richest Countries by GDP

Wikipedia, Ethiopia, Borders of Ethiopia

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Ethiopia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries