Djibouti-Ethiopia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $304.17M total volume •Djibouti surplus: $107.41M

DjiboutiEthiopia

$205.79M

Exports (2023)

EthiopiaDjibouti

$98.38M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$107.41M

Surplus for Djibouti

Total Trade

$304.17M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Djibouti and Ethiopia. Green line shows exports from Djibouti, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Djibouti-Ethiopia commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

DjiboutiEthiopia Exports

$205.79M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
69.5% top product
1Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$143.06M
69.5% of exports
2Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified
$47.79M
23.2% of exports
3Ferrous waste and scrap: of cast iron
$5.20M
2.5% of exports
4Vegetable oils: sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified
$1.84M
0.9% of exports
5Acids: saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids: palmitic acid, stearic acid, their salts and esters
$1.27M
0.6% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Djibouti's export portfolio to Ethiopia demonstrates strategic specialization, with vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

EthiopiaDjibouti Imports

$98.38M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
80.7% concentration
1Vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled
$79.36M
80.7% of imports
2Vegetables: cabbage (head) lettuce (lactuca sativa), fresh or chilled
$1.67M
1.7% of imports
3Vegetables: tomatoes, fresh or chilled
$1.16M
1.2% of imports
4Vegetables: potatoes, uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen
$1.09M
1.1% of imports
5Fruit, edible: plantains, fresh or dried
$922,705
0.9% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Djibouti's import pattern from Ethiopia reveals significant dependencyin vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Djibouti demonstrates competitive strength in exportingvegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified to Ethiopia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $304.17M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Djibouti-Ethiopia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $304.17 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Djibouti maintains a surplus of $107.41 million
  • Export Focus: Djibouti's primary exports include vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified, ferrous waste and scrap: of cast iron
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Ethiopia include vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled, vegetables: cabbage (head) lettuce (lactuca sativa), fresh or chilled, vegetables: tomatoes, fresh or chilled

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $304.17M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Djibouti leveraging its comparative advantages in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Djibouti's specialization in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modifiedcomplements Ethiopia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $304.17M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $304.17M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $304.17 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified and vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Djibouti's trade surplus of $107.41 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Djibouti and Ethiopia represents a total trade volume of $304.17 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Djibouti, with exports exceeding importsby $107.41 million.

Export Strengths

Djibouti's exports to Ethiopia total $205.79 million, with competitive advantages in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, representing $143.06M or69.5% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Ethiopia amount to $98.38 million, highlighting economic interdependence in vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled, with Vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled comprising80.7% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Djibouti's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Djibouti and Ethiopia in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023