Soap imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of soap by Ethiopia reached $9.0 million in 2024 (8.3 thousand tonnes). That is 89% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $79.2 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 | $9.0M | 8.3K t |
| 2023 | $79.2M | 40.8K t |
| 2022 | $37.2M | 28.2K t |
| 2021 | $66.5M | 35.4K t |
| 2020 | $60.0M | 35.6K t |
| 2019 | $71.5M | 49.9K t |
| 2018 | $9.3M | 11.6K t |
| 2017 | $10.1M | 11.1K t |
Where Ethiopia imports soap from
Most of the value came from Indonesia (40%), Kenya (20%), Turkey (12%). Among the main suppliers, Turkey grew fastest (+904% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | $3.6M | 40% |
| Kenya | $1.8M | 20% |
| Turkey | $1.1M | 12% |
| Malaysia | $1.0M | 11% |
| Egypt | $676K | 7.5% |
| China | $375K | 4.2% |
| Netherlands | $166K | 1.8% |
| United States | $67K | 0.8% |
| Germany | $48K | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | $38K | 0.4% |
Product types under HS 3401
| 3401.20 | Liquid and cream soap | 80% |
| 3401.11 | Toilet bar soap | 14% |
| 3401.30 | Liquid skin wash | 4.8% |
| 3401.19 | Industrial bar soap | 1.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.09 per kg, 53% below the world average of $2.31, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Ethiopia?
The shipment records behind Ethiopia soap imports (HS 3401): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 3401: Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent.
Common questions
What is the value of soap imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported soap worth $9.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 8.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 141st of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 89% on 2023.
Which countries supply soap to Ethiopia?
Indonesia was the largest supplier with 40% of the value ($3.6 million), followed by Kenya (20%) and Turkey (12%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 26 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 904% on the year.
What is the average import price of soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.09 per kg in 2024, 53% below the world average of $2.31 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of soap to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $10.1 million in 2017 to $9.0 million in 2024, a fall of 11%. The peak was 2023 at $79.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $42.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for soap?
The HS code for soap is heading 3401. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 3401.20 (80% of the value) and 3401.11 (14%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Ethiopia reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
Soap product types in Ethiopia
More trade data for Ethiopia
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