Somalia-Ethiopia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $143.24M total volume •Somalia deficit: $141.07M

SomaliaEthiopia

$1.09M

Exports (2023)

EthiopiaSomalia

$142.16M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$141.07M

Deficit for Somalia

Total Trade

$143.24M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

SomaliaEthiopia Exports

$1.09M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
96.1% top product
1Wheat or meslin flour
$1.04M
96.1% of exports
2Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material
$35,317
3.3% of exports
3Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91
$4,499
0.4% of exports
4Printing, copying, and facsimile machines: single-function printing, copying or facsimile machines, capable of connecting to an automatic data processing machine or to a network
$1,232
0.1% of exports
5Automatic data processing machines: presented in the form of systems, n.e.c. in item no. 8471.30 or 8471.41
$672
0.1% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Somalia's export portfolio to Ethiopia demonstrates strategic specialization, with wheat or meslin flour representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

EthiopiaSomalia Imports

$142.16M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
72.0% concentration
1Vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled
$102.29M
72.0% of imports
2Vegetables: potatoes (other than seed), fresh or chilled
$15.13M
10.6% of imports
3Vegetables: tomatoes, fresh or chilled
$6.85M
4.8% of imports
4Vegetables: cabbage (head) lettuce (lactuca sativa), fresh or chilled
$2.96M
2.1% of imports
5Vegetables, root: carrots and turnips, fresh or chilled
$2.84M
2.0% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Somalia'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

Somalia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingwheat or meslin flour 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 $143.24M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Somalia-Ethiopia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $143.24 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Somalia maintains a deficit of $141.07 million
  • Export Focus: Somalia's primary exports include wheat or meslin flour, sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material, printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Ethiopia include vegetables: edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled, vegetables: potatoes (other than seed), 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 $143.24M 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 Somalia leveraging its comparative advantages in wheat or meslin flour.

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

Somalia's specialization in wheat or meslin flourcomplements 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 $143.24M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $143.24M 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 $143.24 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in wheat or meslin flour 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

Somalia's trade deficit of $141.07 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material 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
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in wheat or meslin flour 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 Somalia and Ethiopia represents a total trade volume of $143.24 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Somalia, with imports exceeding exportsby $141.07 million.

Export Strengths

Somalia's exports to Ethiopia total $1.09 million, with competitive advantages in wheat or meslin flour, representing $1.04M or96.1% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Ethiopia amount to $142.16 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 comprising72.0% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Somalia's strategic sourcing from Ethiopia. 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 Somalia and Ethiopia in multiple formats.

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