Ethiopia has generated more than $3 billion in coffee export revenue during the fiscal year, reaching a record for East Africa’s largest coffee producer, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Agriculture Minister Addisu Arega said the milestone surpassed the previous fiscal year’s record of $2.65 billion, highlighting the sector’s growing contribution to the economy as Ethiopia continues broader economic reforms.
According to Arega, the increase was driven by government efforts to expand coffee production, improve farm productivity, strengthen quality standards and enhance market traceability.
The latest result marks a sharp rise in coffee export earnings over the past several years. Ethiopia earned about $1.4 billion from coffee exports in 2023, followed by $1.43 billion in 2024, before revenues climbed to $2.65 billion in 2025 and exceeded $3 billion in the current fiscal year.
The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) previously attributed the rise in export receipts to sustained global demand for Ethiopian arabica, as well as increases in export volumes and higher-value sales.
As the birthplace of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia remains the largest producer of Arabica coffee and its principal source of foreign exchange earnings.
The sector supports the livelihoods of an estimated 15 million people through cultivation, processing, packaging and transportation.
Demand for Ethiopia’s specialty coffee has helped many smallholder farmers secure higher prices in international markets, while recent revenue growth has coincided with government measures to improve supply chains and reduce market inefficiencies.
The Ministry of Agriculture said it intends to build on the sector’s recent performance by expanding sustainable agroforestry practices and strengthening protections for Ethiopia’s internationally recognized coffee varieties.
As part of that effort, the ministry has developed a five-year coffee productivity enhancement program to increase average yields from 9 to 21 quintals per hectare.
The government also targets annual coffee export earnings of $6 billion.
