Ethiopia’s plastics industry is fast growing

The Country Cluster of EUROMAP-European Plastics and Rubber Machinery confirms significant growth for Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is East & Central Africa’s 2nd largest importer of plastics in primary forms

As Ethiopia does not manufacture any plastics raw materials at all, 100% of raw materials are imported (mainly from the Middle East, Europe and Asia). Thus, the Ethiopian market has great potential for exporters of plastics in primary forms.

Imports of plastics raw materials, for instance, grew by 18.6% annually between 2007 and 2017, from 43 kt to 237 kt, +451%!

Ethiopia is East & Central Africa’s largest and fastest growing importer of plastics & packaging technology

With plastics technology imports of 41 million euros in 2019, Ethiopia ranks ahead of Kenya with 37 million euros.

With an average annual growth rate of 19.2% between 2012 and 2019, Ethiopia is also Africa’s fastest growing importer of plastics technology.

With packaging technology imports of 45 million euros in 2019, Ethiopia ranks ahead of Kenya with 36 million euros. With an average annual growth rate of 36.9% between 2012 and 2019, Ethiopia is also Africa’s fastest growing importer of packaging technology.

The immense population growth from 115 million in 2020 to 200 million by 2050 (United Nations) will also require strong sustainable double-digit growth in the future.