Rwanda exported goods worth nearly $549 million between April and June 2026, with most of the goods going to just five countries.
China, the United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Netherlands and the United States received goods worth about $390 million during the three-month period. Together, these markets accounted for 71.1% of Rwanda’s total exports.
The figures are from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), which shows that Rwanda’s exports continued to grow during the second quarter of the year.
Rwanda’s exports were valued at $548.98 million in the second quarter, an increase of 58.6% compared with the same period in 2025, when exports were worth $346.04 million.
Exports also increased by 49.6% compared with the first three months of 2026. The figures show that while Rwanda sells its products to different countries, a large share of its export earnings still comes from a small number of markets.
China was one of Rwanda’s biggest export destinations during the quarter. At the same time, it was also among the countries Rwanda bought the most goods from.
China, Tanzania, India, Kenya and Uganda together accounted for 60.8% of the value of Rwanda’s imports during the second quarter.
Rwanda continued to spend much more on imports than it earned from exports. The country imported goods worth $1.606 billion between April and June, compared with $548.98 million worth of exports.
Imports increased by 28.7% compared with the second quarter of 2025, while exports recorded a much higher annual increase of 58.6%.
Trade with European markets also increased. Rwanda’s exports to European Union countries rose by 134.2% compared with the first quarter of 2026 and by 39.9% compared with the second quarter of 2025.
The value of total trade between Rwanda and the European Union reached $156.9 million during the quarter.
The DRC also remained an important market for Rwanda. Trade between Rwanda and the countries of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) reached $285 million, increasing by 36.4% compared with the second quarter of 2025.
Overall, Rwanda’s international trade reached $2.334 billion in the second quarter of 2026, showing that trade activity continued to expand during the period.
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10