UKFT has launched its new Ethiopia Sourcing Report, providing UK fashion and textile businesses with a practical assessment of one of Africa's emerging sourcing markets. The report is available exclusively to UKFT members. Contact info@ukft.org to access. Not yet a member? Visit www.ukft.org/membership.
As global supply chains continue to evolve, international trade remains central to the fashion industry. Sourcing decisions are increasingly influenced not only by cost and manufacturing capability, but also by lead times, trade agreements, resilience and responsible business practices. Against a backdrop of tariff changes and shifting global trade arrangements, many UK brands are reviewing how they diversify their sourcing strategies.
The report examines Ethiopia's potential as a sourcing destination while offering a balanced view of the opportunities and challenges businesses should consider before entering the market.
The report explores:
- The role of international trade and responsible sourcing in the fashion industry
- Ethiopia's political, economic and manufacturing landscape
- The advantages of duty-free access to the UK through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)
- Commercial considerations for UK buyers
- Logistics, infrastructure and geopolitical risks
- Labour and social compliance considerations, including the challenges around establishing a minimum wage
- Ethiopia's cotton, textile and apparel manufacturing capabilities
- Industrial parks, manufacturing clusters and transport connectivity
- Detailed profiles of factories visited during the sourcing mission, including production capabilities, certifications, sustainability credentials and customer references where available
The report concludes that Ethiopia should not be viewed as a low-risk sourcing alternative. Instead, it presents a market where commercial opportunities need to be balanced with careful due diligence, strong supplier partnerships and ongoing monitoring of political, labour and environmental developments.
The publication forms part of UKFT's wider International Business support, which provides members with practical market intelligence, sourcing support and international connections to help them make informed sourcing decisions.
Our international activity is designed for brands looking to identify new responsible sourcing destinations. At the same time, UKFT remains committed to promoting a resilient, innovative and competitive UK manufacturing industry. Supporting businesses with complex global supply chains sits alongside our work to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability, helping members build sourcing strategies that are both responsible and resilient.
Alongside market analysis, the report includes detailed factory profiles based on information gathered during UKFT's sourcing mission. These profiles provide buyers with an overview of manufacturing capabilities, minimum order quantities, sustainability and social compliance credentials, and participation in development programmes such as GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) factory assessments, helping businesses identify potential sourcing partners with greater confidence.
UKFT's visit to Ethiopia was funded by the UK Trade Partnerships Programme (UKTP). The report itself reflects UKFT's independent assessment of the market and has been produced to support objective, informed decision-making by UK fashion and textile businesses.
The Ethiopia Sourcing Report is the latest in UKFT's growing programme of sourcing intelligence and international initiatives, with further market briefings, trade delegations and strategic updates planned throughout the year. By combining research, first-hand market engagement and practical analysis, UKFT continues to help members navigate an increasingly complex global sourcing landscape while supporting responsible and resilient growth.
