Authority Tariff 2021 | Ethiopian Transport
This overhaul was driven by two strategic goals. First, the government aimed to boost the competitiveness of , applying higher duties on finished goods that were already being produced domestically in sufficient quantity and quality. Second, it sought to support local industries by keeping tariffs low on essential raw materials that were not available domestically. This dual approach was intended to protect nascent industries while ensuring that producers could access necessary inputs at reasonable costs, all in alignment with Ethiopia’s ten‑year economic development plan.
| Commodity Class | 2020 Rate (ETB) | | % Increase | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | High-Value Goods (Electronics, Pharmaceuticals) | 12.50 | 18.75 | 50% | | General Merchandise (Textiles, Plastics) | 9.80 | 14.50 | 48% | | Foodstuffs (Wheat, Sugar, Cooking Oil) | 5.60 | 8.40 | 50% | | Construction Materials (Cement, Rebar) | 4.20 | 6.30 | 50% | | Bulk Agriculture (Coffee, Sesame – Exports) | 7.10 | 10.65 | 50% |
The 2021 update to the tariffs—often specifically implemented by the Addis Ababa City Transport Bureau —marked a critical shift in the country’s transport economy . Driven primarily by rising global oil prices and subsequent domestic fuel cost adjustments, these changes aimed to balance the operational sustainability of transport providers with the affordability needs of the public. The 2021 Tariff Structure for Public Transport ethiopian transport authority tariff 2021
Rising costs for spare parts, maintenance, and labor compelled a review of the existing tariff structures.
Earlier in 2021, the COVID-19 National Ministerial Committee issued a directive to significantly increase tariffs on inter-regional transportation. The goal was to curb the movement of people to contain the pandemic. Vehicles with were to charge a 100% increase above the regular fare, while buses with more than 45 seats were to implement a 75% increase . This directive repealed an earlier decree that had allowed the use of private cars on alternating days. This overhaul was driven by two strategic goals
To shield citizens from bearing the full brunt of the global energy crisis, the 2021 tariff framework relied heavily on targeted state-sponsored fuel subsidies.
By December 2021, a second major adjustment hit. Following another oil price hike, the revised minibus and "Higer" bus tariffs. This dual approach was intended to protect nascent
The transport sector is the lifeline of the Ethiopian economy, connecting industrial hubs, agricultural regions, and major trade routes—most notably the . In 2021 and into 2022 , the Ethiopian Transport Authority (acting under the mandate of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics) introduced revised tariff guidelines designed to address economic challenges, rising operating costs for logistics providers, and fuel price volatility.
While the public focused on passenger fares, the Authority also issued guidelines for freight transport following the fuel price hike.
On December 17, 2021, the Addis Ababa City Transport Bureau announced revised rates for minibus and midibus services. These updates introduced a distance-based pricing model that remains the foundation for current fare structures.
The Ethiopian Transport Authority (ETA) has recently released its 2021 tariff, outlining the new rates for various transportation services in the country. The tariff, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, aims to provide a clear and transparent pricing structure for the transport sector.
