Ethiopia prohibits coffee exports: Russian embassy

Tourists are not permitted to export the principal export crop of the nation, according to customs officials.

According to a Monday announcement from the Russian embassy in Addis Abeba, Ethiopian authorities have temporarily outlawed aeroplane passengers from carrying locally produced coffee outside of the nation.

The embassy recommended air travellers to take this information into account while making travel arrangements in order to prevent “unpleasant situations” at Ethiopian airports.

Ethiopian coffee export by flight passengers is momentarily prohibited in any shape or amount, according to a statement from the embassy. This is due to the issuance of a new export order by Ethiopia’s customs officials.

The new coffee export ban’s specifics and justification were not covered in depth by the embassy. Analysts caution, however, that the choice may have substantial effects on the world coffee industry and may lead to an increase in coffee costs.

Ethiopia ranks sixth in the world for coffee output, behind Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia, according to the International Coffee Organisation, a London-based organisation. Coffee production accounts for up to 30% of Ethiopia’s foreign exchange profits and supports more than a quarter of the population.

The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) reports that in 2017, the nation exported 240,000 tonnes of coffee worth $1.34 billion to foreign markets. 27,000 tonnes of coffee worth $140 million were exported from Ethiopia in just August.

The US, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, and the UAE are the top countries that purchase coffee from Ethiopia. In terms of annual growth, the volume of coffee exports has increased by 18% so far this year.