by FlagPictures.org

Located on the Horn of Africa and officially named the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s imports amounted to an estimated US$9.25 billion in 2025, down by -39.5% compared to $15.3 billion five years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, Ethiopia’s import spending grew by 2.6% during 2025 versus the $9 billion paid for Ethiopian imports starting from 2024.

Based on average exchange rates, the Ethiopian birr strengthened by 68.2% against the US dollar since 2021 and appreciated by 47.4% from 2024 to 2025. Ethiopia’s stronger local currency made Ethiopian imports paid for in weaker US dollars relatively less expensive when starting from the Ethiopian birr.

The latest available country-specific data from 2023 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 110.2 million people, its total US$9.25 billion in 2025 imports translates to roughly $85 in yearly product demand from every person in the northeast African country. That dollar metric exceeds the per-capita average of $75 one year earlier in 2024.

By value, Ethiopia’s top 10 imports generated three-quarters (77.7%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest gainer among the top imported product categories from 2024 to 2025 was the fertilizer group thanks to a 559% acceleration.

The other gainers were Ethiopian imports of aircraft and spacecraft (up 34.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 18.1%) and machinery including computers (up 4.8%).

Incurring double-digit percentage declines were imports of plastics both as materials and items made from plastic (down -16.6% from 2024), mineral fuels including oil (down -16.2%) then electrical machinery and equipment (down -10.5%).

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.

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of machinery for making semi-conductors (up 61,971%), bulldozers, mechanical shovels and excavators (up 270.9%) then temperature-change machines (up 111.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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.

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of aircraft launching gear (up 3,802% from 2024) and parachutes or accessories (up 130.3%) grew at the fastest pace.

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

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 864.8%), electric generating sets or converters (up 28%) then electric motors or generators (up 25.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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.

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of fertilizer mixes (up 787.5%) and nitrogenous fertilizers (up 312%) grew from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of fertilizers-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 July 29, 2026

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 29, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 29, 2026

Wikipedia, Shrimp – Ethiopia. Accessed on July 29, 2026