Ethiopian Coffee, Sesame & Pulses Exporter Guide: How to Import from Ethiopia
Ethiopia's key export commodities, how its licensed exporter system works and how goods reach Djibouti or Mombasa.
Read guide →🇪🇹 Regional sourcing · Ethiopia → the world
Import products from Ethiopia
Ethiopia — the birthplace of Arabica coffee — is Africa's top coffee producer and a major exporter of sesame, pulses, niger seed, cut flowers, honey and beeswax, and fine sheepskin leather.
Sourcing from Ethiopia
Ethiopia's diverse highlands produce thousands of heirloom coffee varieties and a wide range of agricultural commodities. Export is limited to licensed Ethiopian exporters and, for coffee, regulated by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA). We help international buyers find licensed suppliers, arrange quality checks and contract on FOB Djibouti or delivered terms — and, where useful, move goods by road through Moyale to Nairobi and Mombasa.
How we help
- Tell us what you need. Choose the origin country, product, type, quantity, Incoterm and your destination port or airport on our order form.
- We find and verify suppliers. Licensed exporters, cooperatives, washing stations, processors and mines — checked for licences, capacity and track record.
- Quality & samples. Pre-shipment samples, cupping or lab analysis, and independent inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Alex Stewart) before loading.
- Documents & compliance. Origin-country export permits, certificates of origin, phytosanitary and quality certificates, and due-diligence files (EUDR, conflict minerals, CITES).
- Logistics to your port. Bonded transit through Kenya to Mombasa or via Dar es Salaam, Djibouti or Matadi — consolidated with Kenyan cargo where it saves you money.
Products from Ethiopia
6 product categories with types, specifications and growing areas.
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Coffee (Yirgacheffe, Sidama, Guji, Harrar)
Ethiopia is the genetic home of Arabica coffee and grows thousands of heirloom landraces at 1,500–2,300 m.
Types: Yirgacheffe Washed Grade 1 · Guji / Sidama Natural Grade 1 · Sidama / Yirgacheffe Washed Grade 2 · Harrar Natural
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Sesame & Niger Seed
Ethiopian Humera sesame (from the northwest, around Humera and Metema) is world-famous for its white colour, sweet taste and high oil content — preferred for tahini and hulling.
Types: Humera White Sesame · Wollega Mixed Sesame · Niger Seed
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Pulses (Haricot Beans, Chickpeas, Mung, Kidney Beans)
Ethiopia is one of Africa's largest pulse exporters.
Types: White Pea Beans · Red Kidney Beans · Kabuli & Desi Chickpeas · Mung Beans
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Leather & Skins
Ethiopian highland sheepskin — especially Selale sheepskin — is one of the world's finest leathers for dress gloves and premium garments, thanks to its fine, tight grain and strength.
Types: Ethiopian Sheepskin · Goatskin · Leather Products
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Cut Flowers
Ethiopia is Africa's second-largest flower exporter.
Types: Roses · Summer Flowers
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Honey & Beeswax
Ethiopia is Africa's largest honey producer and one of the world's biggest beeswax exporters.
Types: Ethiopian Natural Honey · Pure Yellow BeeswaxRegulators & agencies
- ECTA — Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority
- ECX — Ethiopia Commodity Exchange
- Ministry of Agriculture — plant health (phytosanitary)
- ECAE — Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise (quality certificates)
- LIDI — Leather Industry Development Institute
- Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration (export licences)
Export documents
- Export permit / bank permit
- Certificate of Origin (COMESA / general)
- Phytosanitary certificate
- ECTA coffee quality certificate
- ECAE quality certificate (pulses, oilseeds)
- Veterinary / health certificate (honey, leather)
- Bill of Lading (Djibouti) or Air Waybill (ADD)
Compliance notes
Ethiopian exports are contracted with licensed exporters and require bank-registered sales contracts. Ethiopia promotes value addition in leather — crust and finished leather are preferred over raw and wet-blue hides. Coffee for the EU must meet EUDR traceability.
FAQ — importing from Ethiopia
Can coffee be traced to a washing station?
Yes. Since the opening of direct specialty trade outside the ECX, many lots are traceable to washing station, cooperative or farm.
Buyer guides
Guides for importers
Ready to import from Kenya?
Tell us the product, variety, quantity, Incoterm (FOB / CIF / CFR / DAP) and your destination port or airport. We reply with a formal quotation, usually within one business day.