Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Ethiopia

Africa

In 2025 the United States exported $1.4 billion of goods to Ethiopia and imported $1.0 billion from there. Ethiopia ranked 74th among US export markets and 85th among sources of US imports.

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US exports, 2025
$1.4BUp 41.2% on 2024 ($1.0 billion)
US imports, 2025
$1.0BUp 123.3% on 2024 ($465.5 million)
Goods balance
$396.4MUS surplus
Export market rank
74thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
85thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Ethiopia

Aircraft and spacecraft (chapter 88) led US exports to Ethiopia at $959.3 million, 67% of the total. The top three chapters made up 88%.

  1. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$959.3 million66.8%
  2. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$225.3 million15.7%
  3. 98Special classification provisions$76.0 million5.3%
  4. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$45.0 million3.1%
  5. 10Cereals$21.1 million1.5%

US imports from Ethiopia

Coffee, tea and spices (chapter 09) led US imports from Ethiopia at $312.7 million, 30% of the total. The top three chapters made up 76%.

  1. 09Coffee, tea and spices$312.7 million30.1%
  2. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$292.8 million28.2%
  3. 98Special classification provisions$186.0 million17.9%
  4. 61Knitted apparel$104.9 million10.1%
  5. 62Non-knitted apparel$52.8 million5.1%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Ethiopia, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Ethiopia requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Ethiopia.

Exports through the port, 2025
$11.7M0.8% of the US total with Ethiopia
Leading export goods
Machinery and mechanical appliancesHS chapter 84, $5.1 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$3.1M0.3% of the US total with Ethiopia
Leading import goods
Electrical machinery and equipmentHS chapter 85, $1.9 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Getting cargo to Ethiopia

Ethiopia is landlocked. Ocean cargo for Ethiopia discharges at a seaport in a neighboring country and moves on by road or rail.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.