Market research

Cheese and curd market in Ethiopia

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The cheese and curd market in Ethiopia experienced strong expansion from 2018 to 2020, with total volume rising from 10 308 t to 15 044 t, an increase of 46%. This growth was entirely driven by domestic production, which more than compensated for minimal import levels.

A sharp reversal occurred in 2021, as the market contracted by 17% to 12 448 t, mirroring a similar drop in production. The market regained some ground in 2022 and 2023, but the pace of recovery slowed significantly, with volume reaching 13 605 t in 2023, indicating a phase of stabilization.

Throughout this period, the market remained overwhelmingly reliant on local output, with imports playing a negligible role and exports absent, reflecting its orientation toward domestic consumption.

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. 4.2. 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from 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 cheese and curd in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ethiopia's cheese and curd production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 14 943 tonnes, marking a significant 20.5% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 51.4%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 14.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.2%	21.7%	20.5%	14.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cheese and curd from Ethiopia

According to industry reports, Ethiopia did not export any cheese or curd between 2017 and 2020.

Imports cheese and curd to Ethiopia

Imports in kind, t

Ethiopia's cheese and curd imports reached 100.4 tonnes in 2020, down 39.8% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 43.6%, averaging an annual decline of 17.4%. The only notable increase occurred in 2019, when imports grew by 33.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(29.9%)	33.7%	(39.8%)	(17.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Egypt, and France were Ethiopia's main sources for cheese and curd imports by volume. Turkey accounted for 25.3% of imports, Egypt for 14.9%, and France for 12.0%. Together, these three countries made up 52.2% of Ethiopia's total import volume during this period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Ethiopia's spending on cheese and curd imports has dropped for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at 415 thousand US dollars, a 42.3% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 58.9%, with an average annual decline of 25.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(25.5%)	(4.4%)	(42.3%)	(25.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt were the top suppliers of cheese and curd to Ethiopia by value. Turkey contributed 22.1% of import value, Italy 13.4%, and Egypt 12.0%. Combined, these three countries represented 47.5% of Ethiopia's total import value, with the remainder coming from a diverse range of smaller partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ethiopia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io