Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s tobacco industry is dominated by the previously state-owned tobacco company National Tobacco Enterprise Ethiopia, which generates its revenues entirely from sales of cigarettes. While retail volume sales of tax-paid cigarettes are rising,…

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, health protocols had to be implemented altering the shopping experience of Ethiopians. The use of masks and social distancing among consumers and staff were strictly enforced in stores. The pandemic and the war in Tigray…

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a behavioural shift in most consumers, in the sense that they have become more aware of hygiene and sanitation. Even as the pandemic comes to an end, these trends will persist, thus boosting the demand…

Staple foods in 2021: The big picture

Consumption of soft drinks continues to steadily grow in Ethiopia even though the country has faced major setbacks in terms of political stability and COVID-19. Urbanisation and population growth are the leading contributors to the increase in the…

Coffee dominates retail volume sales of hot drinks in Ethiopia. Coffee has a long history in Ethiopia and is regularly consumed by most adults. Retail volume sales of coffee continued to expand at a robust pace in 2021, with the economic shock of the…

The economic shock of COVID-19 led to a sharp slowdown in the rate of growth in retail volume sales of snacks during 2020, and this sluggish performance persisted in 2021. However, in 2022, recovery is slowly starting to be seen. Demand for packaged…

Alcoholic drinks recorded robust growth in 2021 after volume sales fell in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and excise tax increases. Expanding local production, especially in wine and beer, has supported sales growth by offering…

After being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, tissue and hygiene in Ethiopia has entered a period of normalisation in 2021. However, many of the challenges witnessed throughout 2020 persist. For example, the ongoing foreign currency…

Ethiopia’s political landscape has experienced instability, whilst economic freedom remains constricted. In the long run, the economy is expected to outperform regional peers, partly supported by greater foreign investment, although high inflation is…

Beauty and personal care products are common household items among Ethiopian families. Bath and shower, and hair care products are the leading categories and these products are widely available, with most of the population aware of the various types…

Consumer health in 2021: The big picture

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had little impact on demand for dairy and alternatives, not least due to the effective management of the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Ethiopia, widespread civil unrest marred Ethiopian society for much of 2021 and…

Retail volume sales of cooking ingredients and meals in Ethiopia exhibited their highest rate of growth in over a decade during 2021. Edible oils account for the bulk of retail volume sales in this category, and as an essential product for most,…

The economy will slow in 2020. Ethiopia is highly exposed to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-related shock through the large contribution of air transportation to exports. Flower exports to Europe have also declined significantly. Finally, the…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends in key commodities markets. The commodities overview in Ethiopia covers production and consumption trends in agricultural commodities, energy…

The number of households is set to increase rapidly in Ethiopia over 2021-2040, with couples with children remaining the dominant household type. Household earnings have already recovered from the COVID-19 impact, and the fastest household…

Ethiopia’s consumer income is expected to more than double over 2021-2040, yet remain among the lowest globally. Consumer market development is set to be constrained by persisting inequalities, with discretionary spending remaining subdued due to the…

Ethiopia ranks among the bottom third countries globally in the Economic Freedom Ranking, struggling with an unfavourable business environment, soaring skills shortages and underdeveloped infrastructure. However, as one of the largest African…

Mekele and Hawassa are Ethiopia’s most economically vibrant cities. The cities’ economic strength is partially supported by higher consumer expenditure, compared to the other Ethiopian cities. Nevertheless, Dire Dawa holds the highest potential for…