Ethiopia has inaugurated a specialty coffee trading center in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, as part of ongoing efforts to expand its coffee trade engagement with China.
The center is intended to support coffee exhibitions, commercial transactions, and cultural exchange, and to facilitate trade links between Ethiopian exporters and Chinese buyers. Its opening coincided with the Ethiopia-China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference, which was attended by close to 300 participants, including government officials and representatives from the coffee industry and business community in Ethiopia and Hunan Province.
The conference was organized by the Ethio-China Friendship Committee and focused on promoting Ethiopian coffee in the Chinese market while strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. Ethiopia is a major exporter of coffee, and China has become its fourth-largest export destination for the commodity.
According to official data, Ethiopia exported 16,300 metric tons of coffee to China over the past five months, generating USD 113 million in revenue. In a video message delivered to the conference, President Taye Atske-Selassie reiterated Ethiopia’s interest in further cooperation with China in the coffee sector.
Adugna Debela Bote, Director-General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, said the trading center is expected to help create more direct sales channels by using Zhuzhou’s cross-border e-commerce pilot zones. He added that consumer engagement and the promotion of Ethiopian coffee culture would support sustained market presence.
The conference also included the signing of cooperation agreements between Ethiopian and Chinese companies in areas such as coffee trade, barter trade platforms, and new energy development. Hu Xusheng, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress, said the event reflects Hunan Province’s involvement in China-Africa economic cooperation, including its role as host of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
In parallel, a trade promotion event took place in Hunan Province with the aim of increasing Ethiopian specialty coffee exports to the Chinese market. Hosted in Zhuzhou City, the event was aimed at introducing Ethiopian coffee products to a large local consumer base.
China’s role as a destination for Ethiopian coffee has expanded in recent years, moving from the 33rd largest market five years ago to the fourth largest this year. In 2024, Ethiopia exported more than 35,000 tons of coffee to China.
Chinese officials, including the Mayor of Zhuzhou City, are attending the event. The Ethiopian delegation includes Ambassador Tefera Derbew; State Minister of Agriculture Ifa Muleta; State Minister of Government Communication Service Tesfahun Gobezay; and officials from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, along with regional representatives and private sector participants.
Officials said the initiative is expected to contribute to continued commercial engagement between Ethiopian coffee exporters and Chinese importers.
Source: Fana BC
