Market research

Raw bovine and equine hides and skins market in Ethiopia

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Ethiopia's market for raw bovine and equine hides and skins grew from 59 073 t to 63 694 t. This expansion was primarily driven by government policies that discouraged the export of raw materials to promote local leather processing, thereby increasing domestic availability. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further reduced international demand and exports, channeling more hides into the local market.

The market volume contracted to 60 227 t in 2021 and 57 420 t in 2022. Global fluctuations in raw material prices impacted competitiveness in 2021, while the following year saw severe disruptions from the Tigray conflict, including the temporary closure and looting of tanneries. Additionally, Ethiopia's exclusion from the U.S. AGOA trade program from 2022 onward limited preferential access to key export markets, reducing overall market activity.

A partial recovery occurred in 2023, with the market reaching 59 009 t. This turnaround was supported by sustained efforts to improve hide quality through enhanced animal health services and producer training, alongside growing global demand for sustainable leather. The entry of new players and expansion of processing facilities, noted from 2021 onward, also contributed to renewed growth.

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 raw bovine and equine hides and skins in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Ethiopia ranked 30th globally in the production of raw bovine and equine hides and skins.

Top producers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ethiopia's production of raw bovine and equine hides and skins grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 64 317 tonnes, marking a moderate year-on-year increase of 5.5%. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 11.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	4.8%	5.5%	3.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Ethiopia

Exports in kind, t

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	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Nigeria was the overwhelmingly dominant market for Ethiopia's exports of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, accounting for 90.8% of total export volume.

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

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	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ethiopia's exports of raw bovine and equine hides and skins in value terms were almost entirely tied to Nigeria, which represented 97.1% of total export flows.

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

Imports raw bovine and equine hides and skins to Ethiopia

Imports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2018 at 891.8 tonnes and hit their lowest point in 2019 at 0.0 tonnes, resulting in an 891 788-fold amplitude between these years. In 2020, Ethiopia imported 0.0 tonnes, reflecting a 3 400.0% increase compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 100.0% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	418.5%	(100.0%)	3 400.0%	(94.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Italy together accounted for 87.1% of Ethiopia's total import volume of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, with other countries forming a diversified but less significant portion.

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

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Imports reached their peak in 2018 at 2 456 thousand US dollars and their trough in 2019 at 0.0 thousand US dollars, creating a 123 666-fold gap. In 2020, Ethiopia's imports of raw bovine and equine hides and skins amounted to 1 thousand US dollars, which is 2 895.4% higher than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a 100.0% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	241.5%	(100.0%)	2 895.4%	(90.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the country structure of Ethiopia's imports in value terms was primarily shaped by Germany and Italy, which together accounted for 83.0% of total flows; other markets formed a long tail.

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