• China approved soybean meal imports from Ethiopia on July 3, 2025.
• Ethiopia exported 29,408 tonnes of soybeans to China in 2024, earning $18 million.
• The deal strengthens Ethiopia’s agricultural trade position in Asia.

Ethiopia has secured access to China's soybean meal market, marking a new phase in the two countries’ agricultural trade ties. On July 3, 2025, China’s General Administration of Customs officially authorized the import of soybean meal, a key by-product of oilseed processing, from Ethiopia.

The move gives a boost to Ethiopia, already East Africa’s leading soybean exporter, as it seeks to sustain its growth on the international market.

Rosa Wang, an analyst at Shanghai-based consultancy JCI, told Reuters on July 7 that China’s decision is part of a broader effort to diversify supply sources and reduce reliance on dominant exporters like Brazil, Argentina, Russia, and Uruguay.

“The expected volumes remain modest,” Wang said. Still, the move opens new doors for agricultural trade between China and Ethiopia. Until now, Ethiopia only exported soybean seeds to China. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that China will import 60,000 tonnes of soybean meal globally by the end of the 2024/2025 marketing season, with a similar target for 2025/2026.

In 2024, Ethiopia shipped 29,408 tonnes of soybeans to China, earning nearly $18 million, according to Trademap data. That figure is likely to grow with the addition of processed soy exports.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum