Market research

Castor seeds market in Ethiopia

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2024, the domestic market volume for castor seeds in Ethiopia contracted significantly, as stable domestic production was increasingly directed toward international markets. Export volumes rose sharply, a trend accelerated by the entry of new large-scale projects like Agropeace plc's castor seed plantation in the Somali Region and later agreements with international firms such as Casterra Ag Ltd. to cultivate proprietary varieties.

This export growth occurred alongside a transformation of Ethiopia's seed sector, driven by regulatory reforms. The introduction of the new Seed Proclamation No. 1288/2023 provided a strategic framework to encourage private investment and market orientation, while the consolidation of state-owned enterprises into the Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation aimed to improve production and marketing efficiency, helping maintain stable output levels.

The period was also marked by fluctuations in castor seed prices, which dropped in 2020 before recovering. The expansion of export destinations and the increasing involvement of private players underscored the sector's shift toward a more commercially focused and internationally connected industry.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Ethiopia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Ethiopia in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production castor seeds in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Ethiopia was one of the world's top producers of castor seeds from 2017 to 2020, ranking 7th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of castor seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of castor seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Ethiopia produced 11,000 tonnes of castor seeds, showing only a slight change compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 37.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.2%. The highest production was recorded in 2018 at 12,000 tonnes, which represented a 50.0% increase from the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest decline, with production dropping by 8.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ethiopia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	50.0%	(8.3%)	-	11.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports castor seeds from Ethiopia

Exports in kind, t

Castor seeds exports from Ethiopia rose for the second year in a row in 2020. The country exported 4,632 tonnes, a 208.0% increase from 2019. From 2018 to 2020, exports surged by 417%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 72.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	67.9%	208.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and China were the primary destinations for Ethiopia's castor seeds exports in volume terms, together making up 89.5% of total shipments, while other partners accounted for the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Castor seeds exports from Ethiopia increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 3,055 thousand US dollars, up 149.7% from 2019. Between 2018 and 2020, export value grew by 338.6%, with an average annual rate of 63.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	75.7%	149.7%	-

Source: SHEV.io

In value terms, Ethiopia's castor seeds exports from 2017 to 2020 were highly concentrated, with Vietnam and China together accounting for 89.7% of total flows, and other partners representing a small share.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io