Recently, according to data monitored by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), Ethiopia's coffee export revenue in October increased by 66%, reaching more than 155.5 million USD. ECTA stated that this performance exceeded its initially set target of exporting more than 20,000 tons of coffee and earning 108.05 million USD.

In October, Ethiopia shipped more than 35,170 tons of coffee to the international market and earned 155.53 million USD. Due to high global coffee prices, Ethiopia's coffee revenue surged by 62.8 million USD, and October shipments increased, with export volume 15,078 tons higher than the same period last year.

ECTA stated that the coffee industry achieved 176% and 144% of the monthly export volume and export value targets respectively, marking a substantial increase in Ethiopia's coffee supply to the global market since the start of the 2024/25 fiscal year in July. From July to October, Ethiopia exported a total of 150,346 tons of coffee, an increase of 71% compared with the first 3 months of last year. Revenue increased by 51%, reaching 674.55 million USD.

In the previous fiscal year, Ethiopia's coffee exports reached 1.43 billion USD in revenue, and in the current fiscal year, the coffee industry is expected to break its revenue record. This is mainly because, in recent times, weather conditions have been stable, coffee production has increased, and current international coffee prices are high, stimulating coffee exports.

But at present, Ethiopia still faces quite a few problems, among them the country's ongoing internal conflict. For more than a year now, the Ethiopian government forces and Fano armed forces have continued to break out in armed conflict in the Amhara region.

Although during this year the Ethiopian government forces deployed drones, combat helicopters and other heavy weaponry, they were still unable to contain the actions of the Fano forces, and the Fano forces have continued to grow, now with nearly 500,000 soldiers and having long controlled most rural areas of the Amhara region as well as the regional economy.

In addition, Ethiopian media recently reported that the Fano forces recently launched ambush attacks on government forces in areas such as Wollo and Shewa, one of which took place in Debre Berhan, 120 km north of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. There are currently no specific casualty figures, but some sources indicate that the government forces suffered serious losses.

However, according to reports, the commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and other senior officers said after a meeting with officials of the Amhara region that the goal was to "completely defeat" the Fano forces by the end of December to end the conflict in the region, otherwise the defense forces would withdraw from the region. But the outside world generally does not believe that the defense forces can completely defeat the Fano forces, though a withdrawal of the defense forces may reduce regional conflict.

Although Ethiopia's coffee industry has long been basically located in the south of the country and is not directly affected by the conflict, the Amhara region is an important food supply area for the country. Because these areas are currently closed off, domestic prices in Ethiopia remain high, increasing the cost inputs of coffee farmers.

In addition, the Red Sea issue continues to plague Ethiopia's goods exports. Ethiopia still has to rely on the port of Djibouti for exports. Because ships in the Red Sea region are vulnerable to attacks by the Houthis, the number of ships in Djibouti has decreased, driving up the prices of grain, daily necessities, fertilizer and other materials imported by Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the transit time for goods exports has been extended and transport costs have risen. For these various reasons, Ethiopian coffee has also been rising steadily in price recently.

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