Ethiopia said Saturday China has become one of the Horn of Africa country's major export destinations this year.

Tekle Gebre-Hiwot, a senior official of Ethiopian Customs Authority, told journalists that Ethiopia exported to China 175,000 tons of agricultural products, worth 123 million US dollars, from July 2005 to March 2006.

Ethiopia's export to China before July 2005 was at a low level but it jumped following China's declaration of duty-free market access to African goods, said Tekle.

China has granted Ethiopia and other African countries the right to export 187 varieties of goods produced in the country duty-free, starting in 2005.

During the nine months, Ethiopia's total export to China included 142,825 tons of sesame seeds worth 112 million dollars, 28,594 tons of leather goods, hides and skin worth 10.4 million dollars and 3,712 tons of natural gum worth 275,850 dollars.

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