Three Rwandan coffee entries earned Platinum awards at an international competition in Singapore after achieving scores of at least 90%, placing them among six Rwandan entries recognised for their quality.
The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) confirmed on Tuesday, November 10, that Rwanda secured six awards from 10 entries submitted to the 2026 ASEAN Coffee Excellence Awards.
The awards were presented during the ASEAN International Coffee Summit, held in Singapore from November 4 to 6.
NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana said the results demonstrated the quality of Rwandan coffee and recognised the efforts of those working across the sector.
“It reflects the dedication of our farmers, cooperatives, processors and exporters,” Bizimana said, emphasising the importance of maintaining quality standards and strengthening Rwanda’s position in international specialty coffee markets.
Of the six winning entries, three received Platinum awards for scoring at least 90%, while the remaining three earned Gold awards for scores between 80% and 89%.
Among the winners was Abateraninkunga ba Sholi Cooperative, based in Muhanga District, whose coffee received a Platinum award.
The cooperative’s manager, Aimable Nshimiye, welcomed the recognition, saying it would encourage members to improve production and seek opportunities with international buyers.
He said the achievement could help the cooperative strengthen its reputation and expand its activities, creating more opportunities for the farmers involved.
The awards come as Rwanda continues investing in coffee quality, processing methods and international market access to increase the value of its agricultural exports.
According to NAEB, coffee exports generated $139.3 million from approximately 23,000 tonnes during the 2025/2026 financial year.
This represented a 20% increase in revenue compared with the previous financial year, when coffee exports earned slightly more than $116 million from approximately 21,000 tonnes.
Under its Coffee Sector Development Strategy for 2024-2029, Rwanda aims to increase annual coffee export earnings to $192 million by 2029.
The recognition in Singapore followed another achievement in October, when a kilogramme of specialty coffee sold for a record $452 at the Best of Rwanda online auction, demonstrating the premium prices some Rwandan coffees can attract.
The awards also came during the same summit at which NAEB signed a cooperation agreement with the Singapore Coffee Association to strengthen commercial links with buyers in Singapore and other Southeast Asian markets.
For producers such as the Sholi Cooperative, international recognition offers an opportunity to reach buyers seeking high-quality coffee, although the awards do not themselves guarantee new export contracts.
RADIOTV10