Countries→Ethiopia

Import & Export Guide: Ethiopia

Comprehensive guide to trading with Ethiopia. Import procedures, tariffs, customs regulations, and Horn of Africa logistics.

$44.3B

Total Trade Volume (2024)

5-10 days

Avg. Customs Clearance

0-35%

Import Duty Range

Import Procedures

Tax Identification Number (TIN): Mandatory registration with Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA) for all commercial importers.
Import Permit: Required for most goods. Apply via Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration. Valid for 6 months.
Proforma Invoice Approval: Proforma must be approved by National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) for foreign exchange allocation.
Standards Compliance: Ethiopian Conformity Assessment (ECAE) certificate for regulated products (electrical, construction materials, food).
Letter of Credit (LC): All imports above $5,000 require LC from Ethiopian commercial banks.

Register with ERCA and obtain importer registration certificate
Submit Customs Declaration (SAD Form) via ASYCUDA World system
Upload supporting documents: Bill of Lading, invoice, import permit, ECAE certificate, LC documents
ERCA assigns risk profile: Green (auto-release), Yellow (documentary), Red (physical inspection)
Physical examination at entry point if red-flagged (Djibouti Corridor, Bole Airport, Moyale border)
Duty and VAT payment via Commercial Bank of Ethiopia or designated banks
Release order issued after payment confirmation and inspection clearance

Green Channel (Low Risk): 2-3 days (documentary clearance)

Yellow Channel (Medium Risk): 5-7 days (detailed document verification)

Red Channel (High Risk): 7-14 days (full physical inspection + valuation assessment)

Djibouti Transit: Add 3-5 days for port clearance and road transit to Addis Ababa

Ethiopia applies a progressive tariff system aligned with COMESA:

0%: Essential inputs (pharmaceuticals, educational materials, agricultural machinery, strategic industrial inputs)
5-10%: Raw materials, basic commodities, primary agricultural products
10-20%: Semi-processed goods, industrial inputs, intermediate products
30-35%: Finished consumer goods, manufactured products, luxury items
Special Rates: Protective tariffs on sensitive sectors (textiles 35%, leather goods 30%, sugar 50%)

Tax Type	Rate	Applied To
Import VAT	15%	CIF + Duty
Excise Tax	Varies (10-100%)	Alcohol (60%), tobacco (70%), vehicles (10-100% by engine size), luxury goods
Surtax	10%	Specific luxury and non-essential goods
Withholding Tax	3%	CIF value (advance income tax for importers)

COMESA Free Trade Area: 0% duty for COMESA-origin goods with approved Certificate of Origin (19 member states)
AfCFTA: Gradual tariff liberalization with 90% of goods duty-free by 2034
Industrial Parks: 100% duty exemption on capital goods and raw materials for export-oriented manufacturers in designated industrial parks
NGO/Government Exemptions: Duty-free imports for registered NGOs, diplomatic missions, government projects (with approval)
Export Processing Zones: Full duty and tax exemption for inputs used in export production

Prohibited: Used clothing and footwear, weapons without permit, narcotics, counterfeit goods
Restricted: Vehicles over 8 years old, pharmaceuticals (EFDA permit required), firearms (Ministry of Defense permit)

Djibouti Corridor (Port of Doraleh): Ethiopia's primary maritime gateway. 95% of imports via Djibouti. 850 km to Addis Ababa. Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway (EDR) operational.
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport: Busiest cargo airport in Horn of Africa. 500K+ tons/year. Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics hub. Cold chain facilities.
Dry Port of Modjo (ICD): 75 km from Addis Ababa. Connected to Djibouti via EDR. Customs clearance, warehousing, container handling.
Mojo Dry Port (ICD Kality): 34 km from Addis Ababa. Direct rail link. Reduces Addis congestion.
Galafi Border (Djibouti): Main road entry point. 700+ trucks/day. Joint border post operational.

Route	Mode	Transit Time	Est. Cost (20ft)
Djibouti → Addis Ababa	Road Truck	3-5 days	$2,800-3,500
Djibouti → Addis Ababa	Rail (EDR)	12-18 hours	$1,800-2,400
Addis Ababa → Dire Dawa	Road Truck	8-12 hours	$800-1,200
Addis Ababa → Mekelle	Road Truck	12-16 hours	$1,200-1,600
Moyale → Addis Ababa	Road Truck	2-3 days	$2,200-2,800

Djibouti Dependency: 95% of trade via Djibouti. Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway reduces transit time from 4-5 days (road) to 12 hours (rail).
Alternative Routes: Berbera Port (Somaliland) corridor development. 760 km to Addis. Reduces Djibouti congestion.
Port Sudan Access: 1,600 km route via Metema border. Under development for diversification.
Inland Clearance: Modjo ICD handles 70% of imports, reducing Addis Ababa congestion.

Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA): Customs operations, tax administration, ASYCUDA World system, border management.→ erca.gov.et
Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration: Import permit issuance, trade policy, COMESA/AfCFTA coordination.
National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE): Foreign exchange allocation, LC approval, import financing oversight.→ nbe.gov.et
Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise (ECAE): Product certification, standards compliance, pre-shipment inspection.
Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA): Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food products import permits and registration.
Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority: Djibouti corridor oversight, shipping agency licensing, logistics coordination.
Ethiopian Investment Commission: Investment incentives, industrial park licensing, duty exemption coordination.

Navigate Djibouti corridor complexities, ERCA clearance, foreign exchange processes, and landlocked logistics with expert end-to-end support.