Doing Business in Ethiopia

Nominal GDP was estimated at $22.0 billion in 2007/08. The economy is predominantly agricultural, with agriculture contributing 44.6% to the GDP and employing over 80% of the population. Ethiopia has a significant trade deficit. In 2007/08, exports of goods totalled a historical high of $1.5 billion, while imports totalled $6.8 billion. Ethiopia’s primary exports are coffee, oil seeds, cut flowers, khat, hides and skins, pulses, live animals, honey and beeswax, spices, natural gum, fruits and vegetables. Coffee is by far the leading export commodity, constituting 35% of exports by value in 2007/08 followed by oil seeds (15%).

The country’s main imports include capital goods, petroleum products, intermediate inputs and raw materials such as agricultural and industrial chemicals and fertilizers, medical and pharmaceutical products, and food grains.

The top five countries importing to Ethiopia during 2007/08 were: China (14.4 %), Saudi Arabia (13.8%), UAE (9.1%), India (8.2%), and Italy (5.5%). Imports from the United States totalled $262 million, accounting for 4% of Ethiopia’s total imports and making it the 7th largest source country of imports. Ethiopia’s top five export countries were: Germany (9.6%), Saudi Arabia (7.4%), USA (7.3%), Netherlands (7.0%) and Japan (6.2%). Ethiopian exports to the U.S. were estimated at $106 million.

Note: The 2007/08 Ethiopian fiscal year

For More info

http://www.export.gov/ethiopia/eg_et_019641.asp