Ethiopia has generated over 240 million dollars from exports in the manufacturing sector over the past six months, said the Ministry of Industry (MoI).
The export earnings have shown a 40 million dollar increment from the same period last fiscal year. Processed meat and milk products were the main contributors, having generated 77 million dollars.
“Leather, textile and garments, chemicals, construction and electronic products have also contributed significantly towards this performance,” according to Assefa Sisay, corporate communications director at the Ministry. “The status of industrial input supply has also been improving nationally.”
The performance of the manufacturing sector has reduced by two percent since last year. Moreover, the manufacturing sector’s share of output has also been stagnant over the past decade.
Its share in gross domestic product (GDP) averaged 4.5pc, one of the 10 lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Export earnings from manufactured goods in 2015/16 amounted to 344.4 million dollars-16pc of the total export proceeds and fell by 11.5pc relative to the previous fiscal year. The country’s major manufacturing exports include leather and leather products, meat and textile.