In March 2025, Ethiopia's import volume surged to $1.57 billion, representing a significant 22.32% increase from the previous month. Powered by the intelligence platform NBD DATA, this report unveils critical insights into the nation's fastest-growing product categories, dominant trade partners, and company-level import behaviors that reveal the country’s industrial trajectory.

With industrial machinery, chemical compounds, and electrical components leading the charge, Ethiopia's March import profile offers a strategic window into where the country is headed economically.

Top Performing HS Codes: Industrial Equipment Dominates

A standout performer this month was HS code 847960 — Evaporative Air Coolers — which saw explosive growth, with imports skyrocketing to $1.6 million, up from negligible volumes last month. This category alone accounted for some of the most substantial procurement activity across the industrial landscape.

Another category, HS code 847930, covering Presses for Particle Board Manufacturing, recorded $1.86 million in imports, indicating surging demand in Ethiopia's furniture and construction industries.

Also worth noting are:

• HS 845019: Household-type laundry equipment

• HS 853910: Sealed beam lighting units

• HS 290323: Tetrachloroethylene, used in industrial cleaning and degreasing

These surges reflect Ethiopia’s intensifying industrialization, from smart infrastructure to advanced materials and energy.

Key Importing Companies: Strategic Players Shaping Ethiopia’s Industrial Future

Several leading enterprises are at the heart of this growth. According to data from NBD DATA, these importers reflect not only transaction volume but deeper strategic shifts in Ethiopia’s economic direction:

• ETHIOPIAN ELECTRIC POWER
  As the national utility company, EEP imported over $1.57 million worth of evaporative air cooling equipment, likely tied to power plant cooling systems, smart grid infrastructure, or new energy projects. This points to ongoing public investment in national infrastructure.

• THREE FRIENDS INDUSTRY P.L.C.
  This local manufacturer is expanding climate control capabilities for its operations, signaling either new facility construction or production line upgrades.

• ALPHA DATA CENTER PLC
  Active in the digital infrastructure space, Alpha’s import behavior aligns with Ethiopia's ongoing push for data center localization, cloud computing, and digital governance.

• CHANGLE DONGRUN WOOD CO.LTD (ETHIOPIA)
  A major importer of woodworking presses, this company’s investment in HS code 847930 reveals its strategy of vertical integration—likely aiming to scale domestic production and reduce reliance on imported finished boards.

Together, these firms highlight Ethiopia’s transition from a consumer-import economy to a production-capable nation. Monitoring such companies through NBD DATA offers suppliers and investors real-time trade behavior insights and emerging opportunities.

Ethiopia’s Top 10 Import Partners: China Leads, Gulf Countries Gain

In March 2025, China remained Ethiopia’s top import source, with a total trade value of $335.3 million, more than 21% of Ethiopia’s overall imports. Ethiopia worked with over 1,657 Chinese exporters, emphasizing the scale of bilateral trade activity.

The top 10 countries also included:

• Djibouti – $324.2 million

• Saudi Arabia – $128.6 million

• India – $104.4 million

• Kuwait – $103.2 million

• UAE – $82.1 million

• Germany – $61.3 million

• Russia – $52.6 million

• Hong Kong (China) – $52.4 million

China’s dominance extends across industrial, electronics, chemical, and infrastructure sectors, while Gulf nations are strong in fuels, construction materials, and metals.

Fastest Growing Trade Partners

While China and Djibouti dominate volume, new partnerships are emerging. The five fastest-growing countries in terms of month-on-month import growth are:KUWAIT, NORWAY, BANGLADESH, MAURITIUS, CZECH.

This indicates Ethiopia’s strategic diversification, as it reduces dependence on legacy markets and embraces new supply chain routes and technology sources.

Fastest Growing Product Categories

Based on HS code analysis, Ethiopia saw exponential growth in these five categories:

• HS 847930: Wood presses

• HS 845019: Laundry equipment

• HS 853910: Lighting units

• HS 290323: Tetrachloroethylene

• HS 847960: Evaporative Air Coolers

These categories experienced growth rates in the millions of percent—a statistical phenomenon due to previous low base volumes, but nonetheless a signal of new market formation.

Import Trends Over 6 Months: February Dip, March Rebound

The monthly import pattern shows noticeable volatility:

• October 2024 – $1.69B

• November 2024 – $1.51B

• December 2024 – $1.53B

• January 2025 – $1.73B

• February 2025 – $1.28B

• March 2025 – $1.57B

The February drop likely reflects seasonal impacts or port-related constraints. March's rebound suggests restocking, resumed contracts, or seasonal buying cycles—especially in construction and manufacturing sectors.

Final Thoughts

Ethiopia’s March 2025 import data highlights a clear industrial shift, with new machinery, chemicals, and energy infrastructure leading growth. The country is diversifying both its product categories and trade partners while enhancing domestic production capacity.

For suppliers, manufacturers, and trade strategists, now is the moment to tap into Ethiopia’s next growth phase. With NBD DATA offering multi-country customs data, verified company profiles, and real-time HS code tracking, businesses can stay ahead of the curve in Africa’s rising economic hub.