Federal trade authorities claim over 90,000 tons of sesame seeds and other export-ready oilseeds are sitting idle in warehouses. Officials from the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, supported by federal police, are conducting inspections to push these commodities to global markets. This marks a tough challenge for Ethiopia's once-thriving pulses and oilseeds export sector, a key source of foreign currency.
Federal trade authorities in Ethiopia assert that more than 90,000 tons of sesame seeds and other export-ready oilseeds remain idle in warehouses. This situation represents the toughest challenge in years for the country's pulses and oilseeds export sector, which has long served as a vital source of foreign currency earnings.
A series of warehouse inspections, led by officials from the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MTRI) and supported by federal police, aims to expedite the movement of these commodities to international markets. This initiative signals an unprecedented enforcement effort by the state.
Reported on January 4, 2026, by Surafel Mulugeta in Addis Fortune, the standoff between exporters and authorities highlights tensions that could impact economic stability and the sector's future viability.
