Ethiopian Coffee Trading Center Opens in Zhuzhou to Boost China Market Access

Addis Ababa, December 28, 2025 (ENA)—An Ethiopian specialty coffee trading center was officially unveiled on Saturday in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, marking a new step in expanding Ethiopian coffee’s presence in the Chinese market.

The center will serve as a hub for product display, trade transactions, and cultural exchange.

The launch took place during the Ethiopia–China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference, which drew nearly 300 participants, including government officials, industry experts, and business representatives from Ethiopia and Hunan.

Organized by the Ethio-China Friendship Committee, the conference aims to introduce Ethiopia’s premium coffee varieties to a broad consumer base in China, strengthening trade ties between the two countries.

Ethiopia, known as the birthplace of coffee and a major global supplier of high-quality beans, has seen China become its fourth-largest export market.

 In the past five months alone, Ethiopia exported 16,300 metric tons of coffee to China, valued at 113 million dollars.

Ethiopian President Taye Atske-selassie reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening coffee trade cooperation with China in a video address to the conference.

According to Adugna Debela Bote, director-general of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, the new trading center will help establish direct sales channels by utilizing Zhuzhou’s cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, improving efficiency and market access.

He also emphasized that promoting Ethiopian coffee culture through immersive experiences in key commercial areas would be essential for building long-term consumer loyalty.

During the event, Ethiopian and Chinese enterprises signed several cooperation agreements covering coffee trade, barter platforms, and new energy projects.

Hu Xusheng, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress, said the conference reflects Hunan’s ongoing role in supporting China–Africa cooperation, particularly as the permanent host province of the China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo.