Ethiopia has earned 434.6 million U.S. dollars in revenue from the export of various products during the first six months of the current budget year ( July 8, 2006-July 7, 2007), the Ministry of Trade and Industry said Saturday.

Abera Geyesa, head of foreign trade promotion department with the ministry, told reporters that the stated sum of revenue was secured from the export of nearly 316,000 tons of various products.

The products have been exported to more than 96 countries across the world, he said, adding that Germany, Japan and Saudi Arabia were among the major destinations of these products.

The revenue obtained during the reported period exceeds that of the same period last budget year by 34.4 million dollars, showing an 8.6 percent growth, he said.

Abera said the revenue planned to be earned in the reported period was 1.5 billion dollars.

He said the inability of new export firms that were considered in the plan to enter into production and unrealistic plans set by some exporters are among the reasons for the decrease in the revenue envisaged to be obtained during the reported period.

Coffee, cereals, spice, khat, hides and skins, leather products, meat, live animals, gold, fruits and vegetables, sugar, garments and natural gum generated 424.3 million dollars, accounting for 97 percent of the total foreign exchange earnings, according to the Ethiopian official.

Source: Xinhua