Ethiopia Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) is ramping up efforts to expand the share of specialty coffee in its export portfolio, aiming to boost revenues from its higher market value.
ECTA’s Market Intelligence Lead, Cheru Koru, highlighted the stark price difference between regular and specialty coffee. While regular coffee fetches approximately USD 3,500 per ton, specialty coffee can command up to USD 9,000 per ton.
“Specialty coffee now accounts for 40 to 45% of Ethiopia’s coffee exports, a significant rise from the previous 15 to 20%,” Cheru said. “This shift has improved both export earnings and quality standards.”
ECTA aims to generate USD 2 billion by exporting 400,000 tons of coffee this fiscal year. However, challenges like outdated technology, illicit trade, low productivity, and inefficient systems persist. To address these, ECTA has introduced legal reforms, modernized monitoring systems, and launched automation initiatives.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald
