Addis Ababa, December 28, 2025 (FMC) — A high-level Ethiopian delegation has taken part in a strategic conference and a major trade promotion event in Hunan Province, China, aimed at strengthening the export of Ethiopian specialty coffee to the Chinese market.
The event, held in Zhuzhou City, served as a large-scale platform to promote Ethiopia’s distinctive coffee varieties, attracting more than 700,000 participants. It brought together government officials, business representatives, and industry stakeholders from both countries.
Speaking at the event, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew, highlighted the growing relationship between Ethiopia and China, noting that coffee plays a central role in strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
State Minister of Agriculture Ifa Muleta said Ethiopia is implementing broad agricultural transformation efforts and called for closer collaboration in areas such as agricultural inputs, improved harvesting practices, storage, and distribution systems.
As the birthplace of coffee and one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality beans, Ethiopia has seen China emerge as its fourth-largest export destination for coffee, according to officials.
Over the past five months, Ethiopia exported 16,300 metric tons of coffee to China, generating 113 million dollars in revenue.
During the event, Ethiopian and Chinese companies signed several cooperation agreements covering coffee trade, barter-based trading platforms, and new energy development initiatives.
State Minister of Government Communication Service Tesfahun Gobezay said coffee represents more than an export commodity for Ethiopia, describing it as a cultural asset that contributes to strengthening people-to-people relations between Ethiopia and China.
Director-General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority Adugna Debela said demand for Ethiopian coffee continues to grow in the Chinese market and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s readiness to establish effective and sustainable partnerships with Chinese stakeholders.