Ethiopia exported 16,300 metric tonnes of coffee to China over the past five months, generating 113 million US dollars in export earnings, as China consolidates its position as one of Ethiopia’s fastest-growing coffee markets, Ethiopian News Agency reported.

The figures were announced during a trade promotion and strategic cooperation event held in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, where Ethiopian and Chinese companies signed multiple agreements covering coffee trade, barter platforms and new energy projects.

A high-level Ethiopian delegation attended the conference and exhibition, which aimed to expand the footprint of Ethiopian specialty coffee in the Chinese market. The event attracted more than 700,000 visitors, offering Ethiopian exporters wide exposure to buyers, distributors and consumers.

China has emerged as Ethiopia’s fourth-largest export destination for coffee, reflecting rising demand for premium and specialty beans from the birthplace of coffee.

Adugna Debela, director-general of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, said demand for Ethiopian coffee in China continues to grow and noted Ethiopia’s readiness to establish effective and sustained partnerships with Chinese enterprises.

Ethiopia’s ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew, said coffee has become a key driver of bilateral engagement, describing it as a commercial product that also carries cultural significance in relations between the two countries.

State Minister of Agriculture Ifa Muleta outlined Ethiopia’s ongoing agricultural initiatives and called for cooperation in areas including agricultural inputs, harvesting efficiency, storage facilities and distribution systems to improve output and quality.