Ethiopia Wheat Imports 2026 Market Overview & Trends

Ethiopia's wheat imports have experienced a significant downward trend. After reaching a peak import value of $938.6 million in 2021, the market contracted sharply to $337.8 million by 2023. Total quantity followed a similar trajectory, falling from 1.84 billion to 566.8 million units, indicating a substantial reduction in import volume over the last two years.

In 2023, the United States emerged as the primary supplier of wheat to Ethiopia, with an export value of $218.3 million. Ukraine followed as the second-largest partner at $65.9 million, while Romania contributed $30.9 million. Russia and Kenya maintain smaller but notable positions, highlighting a market reliance on North American and European suppliers.

Kenya stands out as a rapidly emerging partner with a massive growth rate, reaching a value of $6.9 million in 2023. Tanzania and Romania also show significant presence as emerging suppliers. While Mexico and Israel demonstrate high growth percentages, their absolute trade values remain low, indicating niche or nascent trade relationships.

The import market is dominated by Durum wheat (HS 100110), which accounted for $275.2 million in 2023. In contrast, other wheat and meslin varieties (HS 100190) represented a smaller share of the market at $62.6 million. This distribution highlights a concentrated demand for durum wheat seeds within Ethiopia's cereal import profile.