China leads the East African Community’s export destinations and import sources, with exports to the country reaching $10.7 billion and imports from China rising to $7.1 billion as total EAC trade hit $52.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
Total trade rose by 37% from $38.2 billion in the same quarter of 2025.
EAC exports increased by 41.3% to $26.3 billion, while imports rose by 32.9% to $26 billion, leaving the region with a trade surplus of about $300 million. A year earlier, the bloc had recorded a deficit of $945.3 million.
Exports to China nearly doubled from $5.7 billion to $10.7 billion, driven largely by minerals and other raw materials. Imports from China increased from $4.7 billion to $7.1 billion.
The United Arab Emirates and South Africa were also among the main destinations for EAC exports. India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Japan were among the other leading sources of goods imported into the region.
Trade between EAC member states also grew, with intra-EAC exports rising by 33.2% to $3.2 billion.
Exports to African markets increased by 44.3% to $7.2 billion, including $5.1 billion to Southern African Development Community countries and $3.1 billion to COMESA markets. Copper and precious metals accounted for 61.9% of EAC exports, up from 58.7% a year earlier. Coffee, tea and spices were also among the region’s major agricultural exports.
Rwanda-China Trade
China also held a leading position in Rwanda’s external trade. In the first quarter of 2026, it was Rwanda’s top export destination and the country’s largest source of imports. Rwanda imported goods worth $355.53 million from China during the quarter.
China continued to rank prominently among Rwanda’s export markets in the second quarter.
Rwanda exported goods worth $47.74 million to China in April, when it ranked first among export destinations. It also ranked first in May, before falling to third place in June, when exports to the Chinese market were valued at $44.63 million.
China was also Rwanda’s largest source of imports in June. Goods imported from China were valued at $164.51 million, accounting for 24.78% of Rwanda’s total imports that month.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10