Ethiopian Coffee Harvest Season and Export Calendar

Quick answer

Ethiopia's coffee marketing year runs October to September, with the main harvest in October to December. Exports are slowest in December and January and peak from April to July, according to USDA five-year averages. To secure the best lots, cup samples early and contract ahead of the spring peak.

Ethiopia's coffee marketing year runs from October to September. The main harvest falls in October to December, then processing and quality certification take place before the export shipments that peak between April and July.

Ethiopian coffee export calendar by month

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service analysed export data for marketing years 2020/21 to 2024/25 in its May 2026 Ethiopia Coffee Annual. Its five-year averages show the share of annual export volume by month:

  • December and January: the weakest months, at about 5 percent and 4 percent of annual volume, reflecting post-harvest processing and limited export availability.
  • March and April: transition months, at about 8 percent and 10 percent.
  • May, June and July: the strongest months, at about 12, 13 and 12 percent. USDA links this to completed processing and certification of the main crop, and to shipping before the rainy season.
  • September: about 8 percent, as exporters clear remaining stock before the new harvest begins in October.

USDA reports that this pattern has stayed broadly consistent over the past five marketing years.

What this means when you buy

New-crop coffee is harvested from October, but most of it does not ship until spring. Roasters and importers who want first pick of the main crop can request pre-shipment samples from an exporter and agree contracts ahead of the April to July peak, rather than waiting for it. Late-season buyers should expect remaining lots to be those not yet cleared; see the current offer list for what is available.

Harvest timing varies by year and region. In the 2025/26 season USDA reported late rains that delayed some harvests, so treat these months as typical patterns, not guarantees. Seasonal figures describe all Ethiopian coffee exports, not the lots of any single exporter.

Sources

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Ethiopia: Coffee Annual, GAIN report ET2026-0005, 20 May 2026 (Ethiopia).