Special purpose vehicles imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of special purpose vehicles by Ethiopia reached $18.3 million in 2024 (4.0 thousand tonnes). That is 32% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $43.1 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 | $18.3M | 4.0K t |
| 2023 | $27.0M | 4.1K t |
| 2022 | $43.1M | 6.1K t |
| 2021 | $26.9M | 4.4K t |
| 2020 | $23.5M | 4.4K t |
| 2019 | $28.1M | 4.4K t |
| 2018 | $11.1M | 1.9K t |
| 2017 | $32.6M | 6.0K t |
Where Ethiopia imports special purpose vehicles from
China alone supplied 75% of it. Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest (+539% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $13.7M | 75% |
| India | $1.6M | 8.7% |
| Italy | $1.1M | 6% |
| Germany | $696K | 3.8% |
| South Korea | $401K | 2.2% |
| Turkey | $326K | 1.8% |
| Japan | $265K | 1.4% |
| Spain | $184K | 1% |
| Netherlands | $35K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 8705
| 8705.90 | Specialized service vehicles | 59% |
| 8705.40 | Concrete mixer trucks | 30% |
| 8705.10 | Crane trucks | 9.9% |
| 8705.30 | Fire trucks | 1.5% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8705.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.60 per kg, 35% below the world average of $7.07, 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 special purpose vehicles imports (HS 8705): 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 8705: Special purpose motor vehicles; not those for the transport of persons or goods (e.g. breakdown lorries, road sweeper lorries, spraying lorries, mobile workshops, mobile radiological units etc).
Common questions
What is the value of special purpose vehicles imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported special purpose vehicles worth $18.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 107th of 217 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 32% on 2023.
Which countries supply special purpose vehicles to Ethiopia?
China was the largest supplier with 75% of the value ($13.7 million), followed by India (9%) and Italy (6%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 9 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 539% on the year.
What is the average import price of special purpose vehicles per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.60 per kg in 2024, 35% below the world average of $7.07 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of special purpose vehicles to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $32.6 million in 2017 to $18.3 million in 2024, a fall of 44%. The peak was 2022 at $43.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $26.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for special purpose vehicles?
The HS code for special purpose vehicles is heading 8705. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 8705.90 (58% of the value) and 8705.40 (30%).
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
World special purpose vehicles trade: top importers and exporters
Special purpose vehicles product types in Ethiopia
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