Ethiopia is set to expand its coffee exports to China following the implementation of a trade agreement that eliminates import tariffs on 100% of the African country's products. The measure, announced by Chinese authorities last week, seeks to deepen trade relations between Addis Ababa and Beijing and is seen as strategic for the Ethiopian coffee sector. With annual growth of around 15%, coffee consumption in China is consolidating as one of Ethiopia's main bets for diversifying export destinations. The largest coffee producer in Africa, the country has set a goal of reaching US$2 billion in annual export revenue by 2027, with the Chinese market as a central pillar of this strategy. Data from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority shows that, in the first nine months of the 2025/26 fiscal year, shipments to China grew by 40% year-on-year. Despite the potential, the growth of exports faces structural obstacles. Logistical bottlenecks, internal tensions, and limitations at the Port of Djibouti continue to impact the flow of shipments and the quality of the product. To mitigate these problems, the Ethiopian government is investing in modernizing infrastructure, particularly the railway linking Addis Ababa to the port. Another challenge lies in the increasing phytosanitary requirements imposed by China. According to the director-general of the Ethiopian coffee authority, Adugna Debela, "the tariff is zero, but the quality barrier is high." The need for standardization in production processes, such as washing and drying the beans, is considered essential to meet the requirements of the Chinese market.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.