Market research

Sorghum 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 2020, Ethiopia's sorghum market volume grew from 5.5 million tons to 5.7 million tons. This expansion was supported by the widespread adoption of improved hybrid varieties among small-scale farmers, which enhanced disease resistance and drought tolerance, leading to higher production.

Market volume contracted to 4.8 million tons in 2021 and further to 3.9 million tons in 2022. A recovery to 4.0 million tons followed in 2023, driven by high demand for locally produced food amid global grain price increases and persistent currency depreciation, which encouraged domestic consumption despite rising production and transportation costs.

In 2024, currency devaluation and supply chain disruptions following Ethiopia's shift to a market-based foreign exchange system continued to influence the market, raising grain prices and reducing import activity, while sorghum production was estimated around 4.1 million tons.

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, K 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, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ethiopia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ethiopia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K 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 sorghum in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Ethiopia maintained its position as the world's third-largest producer of sorghum by volume.

Top producers of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Sorghum production in Ethiopia grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 5 634 K t of sorghum, marking a 3.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.9%	1.6%	3.2%	2.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sorghum from Ethiopia

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for sorghum showed significant volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a staggering 9 459-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Ethiopia's sorghum exports registered 0.0 K t, representing a dramatic year-over-year increase of 2 451.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 99.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(85.4%)	(99.9%)	2 451.0%	(86.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya dominated Ethiopia's sorghum exports in volume, accounting for 99.8% of total flows.

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, M $ US

The export market in value terms displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. From 2017 to 2019, there was a peak-to-trough amplitude of 25 124 times. In 2020, Ethiopia exported 0.0 M $ US worth of sorghum, up by 16 200.8% compared to the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 0.0 M $ US, with the largest decline that year reaching 100.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(81.1%)	(100.0%)	16 200.8%	(81.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya remained the nearly exclusive buyer of Ethiopian sorghum in value terms, holding a 99.5% share of total exports.

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 sorghum to Ethiopia

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, Ethiopia's sorghum imports increased in 2020. The country imported 110.8 K t of sorghum that year, up by 10.5% versus 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 63.8%, equating to an annualized decline of 28.7%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 100.3 K t, with the largest drop occurring in 2018 at 51.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(51.4%)	(32.6%)	10.5%	(28.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the United States (53.1% of imports in volume), Italy (26.8%), and Sudan (13.0%) were the main suppliers of sorghum to Ethiopia, together accounting for 92.9% of total imports in kind.

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, M $ US

Following a two-year decline, Ethiopia's sorghum imports in value terms rose in 2020. Imports amounted to 77.4 M $ US that year, showing a 22.2% year-over-year increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 51.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -21.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 63.4 M $ US, and the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 39.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(39.0%)	(35.5%)	22.2%	(21.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, two countries—the United States and Italy—concentrated most of Ethiopia's sorghum imports in value terms, while other markets played a less significant role individually.

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