Cars imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Ethiopia imported cars worth $78.2 million (6.7 thousand tonnes). Value fell 83% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 6% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $476.9 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $78.2M | 6.7K t |
| 2023 | $457.6M | 67.4K t |
| 2022 | $476.9M | 47.2K t |
| 2021 | $420.7M | 37.0K t |
| 2020 | $441.8M | 36.3K t |
| 2019 | $418.2M | 44.3K t |
| 2018 | $146.0M | 21.4K t |
| 2017 | $123.6M | 15.0K t |
Where Ethiopia imports cars from
China alone supplied 58% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $45.4M | 58% |
| Germany | $12.1M | 16% |
| India | $7.7M | 9.9% |
| Japan | $5.4M | 6.8% |
| South Korea | $2.4M | 3.1% |
| Belgium | $1.8M | 2.3% |
| Thailand | $774K | 1% |
| United States | $737K | 0.9% |
| Netherlands | $613K | 0.8% |
| Italy | $516K | 0.7% |
Product types under HS 8703
| 8703.80 | Electric cars | 43% |
| 8703.22 | Petrol cars 1000-1500cc | 21% |
| 8703.40 | Hybrid petrol-electric cars | 8.8% |
| 8703.33 | Diesel cars >2500cc | 8.3% |
| 8703.23 | Petrol cars 1500-3000cc | 7% |
| 8703.60 | Plug-in hybrid petrol cars | 5.7% |
| 8703.31 | Diesel cars <1500cc | 2.9% |
| 8703.32 | Diesel cars 1500-2500cc | 1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8703.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $11.64 per kg, 28% below the world average of $16.22, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cars exports from Ethiopia
In 2024, Ethiopia exported cars worth $522 thousand (26 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Nigeria accounted for 83% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Nigeria grew fastest (+470% on the year before).
Who is behind these numbers in Ethiopia?
The shipment records behind Ethiopia cars imports (HS 8703): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8703: Motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading no. 8702), including station wagons and racing cars.
Common questions
What is the value of cars imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported cars worth $78.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 6.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 146th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 83% on 2023.
Which countries supply cars to Ethiopia?
China was the largest supplier with 58% of the value ($45.4 million), followed by Germany (16%) and India (10%). The top three together account for 83%, out of 20 supplier countries in total. The Netherlands grew fastest among the top ten, up 61% on the year.
What is the average import price of cars per kg?
The average declared import value was about $11.64 per kg in 2024, 28% below the world average of $16.22 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of cars to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $123.6 million in 2017 to $78.2 million in 2024, a fall of 37%. The peak was 2022 at $476.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $320.4 million a year.
Does Ethiopia also export cars?
Yes. Ethiopia exported $522 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Nigeria, Italy and Egypt. On balance Ethiopia is a net importer of this product, by about $77.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for cars?
The HS code for cars is heading 8703. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 8703.80 (43% of the value) and 8703.22 (21%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Ethiopia. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Cars product types in Ethiopia
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