Newsprint market in Ethiopia

Earlier Report Observations

Ethiopia's newsprint market volume experienced notable swings from 2018 to 2020. It began at 17 238 tons in 2018, with imports of 4 238 tons occurring alongside Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's initial pledges to liberalize the economy. The following year, the government's continued protectionist stance in trade sectors limited foreign competition, leading to a sharp fall in imports to 1 898 tons and reducing the total market size to 14 898 tons. In 2020, imports rebounded to 4 156 tons, pushing market volume to 17 156 tons, a recovery that took place despite the onset of a civil conflict that year.

The market shifted again from 2021 to 2023. In 2021, a peak in global export prices for printing and writing paper likely reduced the affordability of imports, contributing to a drop in import volume to 1 226 tons and a market size of 14 226 tons. A modest recovery followed, supported by policy measures. The introduction of Investment Incentive Regulation No. 517/2022 and Special Economic Zone legislation aimed to attract investment, coinciding with a rise in imports to 2 064 tons and a market volume of 15 064 tons in 2022. By 2023, agreements by the Oromia Industrial Parks Development Corporation to build food processing parks helped bolster industrial demand, supporting a further market increase to 15 408 tons as imports reached 2 408 tons.

In 2024, newsprint imports fell dramatically to 513 tons. This decline occurred in a year when the government enacted significant reforms, including Directive No. 1001/2024 which opened import, wholesale, and retail sectors to foreign investors, and implemented a new foreign exchange directive to move toward a market-determined exchange rate. The sharp drop in imports may reflect transitional adjustments within the liberalizing trade environment.

Production newsprint in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of newsprint, 2017-2020

World map of production of newsprint, 2017-2020

Ethiopia's newsprint production remained stable in 2020, with output at 13 000 tonnes, showing virtually no change from the previous year. The most significant production shifts occurred in 2018, where both the largest decline and increase were recorded at 0.0%.

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

Exports newsprint from Ethiopia

Exports in kind, t

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was overwhelmingly the primary destination for Ethiopia's newsprint exports in kind, accounting for 100.0% of total flows during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

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

During 2017–2020, Ethiopia directed 100.0% of its newsprint export value to South Africa, establishing this market as overwhelmingly dominant in value terms.

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

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

Imports newsprint to Ethiopia

Imports in kind, t

The market showed considerable volatility during these years. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 1 898 tonnes, then peaked in 2017 with a threefold difference between these years. In 2020, Ethiopia's newsprint imports were recorded at 4 156 tonnes, representing a substantial year-over-year increase of 119.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 55.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and India together accounted for 82.9% of Ethiopia's total newsprint imports in kind, while the remaining volume was distributed across a diverse range of other countries.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations throughout the period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 1 793 thousand US dollars, then reached their peak in 2017 with a 2.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, foreign newsprint supplies to Ethiopia were recorded at 3 532 thousand US dollars, marking a 97.0% increase compared to the prior year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 43.2%.

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

During 2017–2020, Russia and India dominated as suppliers of newsprint to Ethiopia, together accounting for 83.7% of total imports in value terms, with other partners playing a less significant role.

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

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