Ethiopia is targeting more than $3 billion in foreign exchange earnings by exporting over 600,000 metric tons of coffee in the 2025/2026 Ethiopian fiscal year, according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority.

Speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Dr. Adugna Debela, director general of the authority, said the country earned over $2.65 billion from coffee exports in the recently concluded fiscal year. The new target marks a significant increase, with export volumes expected to surpass the current year by 150,000 tons.

Coffee remains one of Ethiopia’s most vital exports, and officials say the country is pursuing multiple initiatives to increase productivity and market competitiveness. Dr. Adugna said efforts are underway to improve farm-level productivity, expand coffee cultivation, and strengthen quality standards. A newly introduced extension package is already in use to improve production practices.

To ensure the sustainability of the sector, farmers are being trained in modern cultivation methods, in collaboration with regional governments. The extension package focuses on raising awareness, rehabilitating old coffee trees, and expanding high-quality varieties. 

In the Southern Sidama region, more than 38,500 tons of coffee were supplied to the central market in the past fiscal year, according to regional coffee and spice director Mesfin Kare. Of the total coffee produced, over 90% was graded as Grade 1 or 2. For the next fiscal year, the region is preparing to supply over 40,000 tons of high-grade coffee to both domestic and international markets.

Officials in the region also plan to implement new productivity-enhancing packages and expand eco-friendly farming practices, including organized composting and coffee agroforestry. Cluster-based cultivation across 18,000 hectares is also being scaled up.