Ethiopia Maintains Ban on Chinese Sino Trucks as Forged Import Documents Rise

Ethiopia has stopped issuing permits for the import of Sino Trucks, a heavy-duty vehicle manufactured by the state-owned China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, known as CNHTC, even as forged documents have allowed some shipments to slip through.

Two months after the ban took effect, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics reiterated its position in a letter to the Customs Commission last week, stressing that no exemptions or special permits had been granted. Officials urged customs officers to remain alert to falsified paperwork and to report any attempts to bring the trucks into the country.

The ministry cited quality and technical defects in the vehicles, known locally as “Red Terror,” which it says have been linked to fatal accidents. In a letter signed by Abera Molisa, the acting head of public transport and vehicles, the ministry called for vigilance against unauthorized imports. The Customs Commission followed up with an ordinance circulated to its departments on Thursday.

While CNHTC produces a range of heavy-duty trucks, the 336 Howo model has proved especially popular in Ethiopia’s construction industry. An assembly plant was established in Addis Ababa eight years ago to meet demand. The trucks’ affordability and versatility have helped cement their place in the market, but also, officials say, their notoriety, given their involvement in accidents.

The ministry said the ban would remain in place until CNHTC addresses the safety and quality issues. Based in Jinan, Shandong Province, CNHTC is China’s largest and oldest exporter of heavy-duty trucks, shipping more than 130,000 vehicles abroad in 2023 alone.