Located on the Horn of Africa and officially named the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s imports amounted to an estimated US$8 billion in 2024, down by -43.3% compared to $14.1 billion five years earlier in 2020.

Year over year, Ethiopia’s import spending plunged by -53% during 2024 versus the $17 billion paid for Ethiopian imports starting from 2023.

Based on average exchange rates, the Ethiopian birr shrank by -52.2% against the US dollar since 2020 and depreciated by -24.5% from 2023 to 2024. Ethiopia’s weaker local currency made Ethiopian imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when starting from the Ethiopian birr.

Ethiopia’s Most Valuable Suppliers

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 108.4 million people, its total $8 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $75 in yearly product demand from every person in the northeast African country. That dollar metric badly lags the per-capita average of $160 one year earlier in 2023.

Ethiopia’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Ethiopia’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Ethiopia.

1. Machinery including computers: US$1.8 billion (22.1% of total imports)
2. Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.23 billion (15.3%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.13 billion (14.1%)
4. Pharmaceuticals: $421.4 million (5.3%)
5. Mineral fuels including oil: $293.8 million (3.7%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $292.9 million (3.7%)
7. Vehicles: $289.4 million (3.6%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $230.4 million (2.9%)
9. Other chemical goods: $216.9 million (2.7%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $185.5 million (2.3%)

By value, Ethiopia’s top 10 imports generated three-quarters (75.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest gainer among the top imported product categories from 2023 to 2024 was aircraft and spacecraft thanks to a 230.4% acceleration.

The other gainer was Ethiopian imports of optical, technical or medical apparatus via a 0.6% increase.

Leading the decliners were mineral fuels including oil (down -88.9% from 2023).

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.

Ethiopia’s Top Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2024, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Turbo-jets: US$539.4 million (up 32.9% from 2023)
2. Computers, optical readers: $410.1 million (up 109.1%)
3. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $70.7 million (down -28%)
4. Lifting/loading machinery: $45.3 million (down -14%)
5. Liquid pumps and elevators: $42.6 million (down -31%)
6. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $36.4 million (down -45.3%)
7. Hydraulic turbines: $35.7 million (up 162.8%)
8. Grain processing machinery: $33.9 million (up 15.3%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $33.8 million (down -41.3%)
10. Rubber/plastic article making machines: $33.1 million (down -37.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of hydraulic turbines (up 162.8%), computers including optical readers (up 109.1%) then turbo-jets (up 32.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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.

Ethiopia’s Top Imports of Aircraft and Spacecraft

In 2024, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of aircraft and spacecraft.

1. Aircraft, spacecraft: US$585.4 million (up 4639.5% from 2023)
2. Aircraft or spacecraft parts: $74.1 million (down -79.1%)
3. Unmanned aircraft: $837,000 (up 908.4%)
4. Aircraft launch gear, ground fly trainer: $602,000 (down -79.6%)
5. Parachutes, accessories: $99,000 (2023 data unavailable)
6. Balloons, dirigibles, gliders, handgliders: $9,000 (down -10%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of aircraft and spacecraft (up 4,640%) and unmanned aircraft parts (up 908.4%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

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.

Ethiopia’s Top Imported Electrical Items

In 2024, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$202.3 million (down -41.9% from 2023)
2. Insulated wire/cable: $180.1 million (up 35.1%)
3. Electrical converters/power units: $138.8 million (up 2.3%)
4. Electrical machinery: $102.7 million (up 1982.3%)
5. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $82.5 million (down -10.1%)
6. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $40.3 million (down -57.4%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $38.3 million (down -34.6%)
8. Electric motor parts: $32.9 million (up 37.2%)
9. Electric generating sets, converters: $32.7 million (down -49.8%)
10. Electric motors, generators: $32.2 million (down -24.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of electrical machinery (up 1,982%), electric motor parts (up 37.2%) then insulated wire or cable (up 35.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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.

Ethiopia’s Top Pharmaceuticals Imports

In 2024, Ethiopian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of pharmaceuticals.

1. Medication mixes in dosage: US$245.5 million (down -46.6% from 2023)
2. Blood fractions (including antisera): $146.9 million (down -13.7%)
3. Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $25.7 million (down -32%)
4. Packaged dressings: $1.9 million (down -73.3%)
5. Medication mixes not in dosage: $1.1 million (down -6.2%)
6. Dried organs, heparin: $265,000 (up 846.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Ethiopian purchases of medication mixes not in dosage (down -6.2%), blood fractions including antisera (down -13.7%) then sutures or other special pharmaceutical goods (down -32%) declined at the slowest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of pharmaceuticals-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 November 14, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on November 14, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on November 14, 2025

Wikipedia, Shrimp – Ethiopia. Accessed on November 14, 2025