Rwanda’s agricultural and livestock exports generated $1.1 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, marking the first time the sector has surpassed the $1 billion threshold, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).
The earnings rose by 24.3% from $893 million in 2024/25, continuing the sector’s growth from $839.21 million in 2023/24. The latest figure represents the highest annual export earnings recorded by the sector.
Coffee, tea and beverages generated $264.9 million, while livestock products brought in $204.8 million. Flowers, fruits and vegetables earned $86.8 million, while other agricultural products accounted for the largest share at $554.3 million. Rwanda’s key export markets include the UAE, Qatar, China and other Asian countries, the United States, Europe and various African markets.
NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana attributed the growth to investments in export infrastructure, including coffee and tea washing and grading facilities, an internationally certified laboratory and cold-storage facilities for fresh produce. He also pointed to improved quality and traceability systems, international trade fairs, buyer-exporter matchmaking, the annual “Best of Rwanda” coffee auction and digitised export services.
Bizimana described surpassing the $1 billion mark as “a significant achievement for Rwanda’s agricultural export sector,” linking the progress to the country’s development goals under NST2 and PSTA5.
Government programmes are also supporting farmers with climate-resilient seeds, technical training and productivity initiatives to sustain export growth. NAEB is targeting $1.5 billion in agricultural and livestock exports by 2029.
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