KIGALI — Rwanda’s international trade showed robust resilience in 2025, with exports increasing by 11.4% to generate over $2.26 billion in revenue. The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) revealed the figures today, noting that the country’s broader economy grew by an impressive 9.4%, slightly surpassing the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) target of 9.3%.
Presenting the data during a monetary policy and financial stability briefing on Thursday, NBR Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye attributed the strong performance to the country’s persistent push for industrialization and market expansion. Meanwhile, imports rose by a moderate 5.8% over the same period.
“Rwanda’s international trade remained resilient in 2025, reflecting strong efforts to increase exports and implement industrial development policies,” Hakuziyaremye stated.
Trade Drivers and Key Markets
The surge in export revenues was heavily anchored by traditional high-value commodities, specifically coffee and minerals. Conversely, the 5.8% rise in imports was primarily driven by domestic demand for essential goods, including petroleum products, sugar, and rice.
Rwandan goods found their strongest footing in both regional and global markets. The top five export destinations for 2025 were:
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
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China
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Egypt
- Uganda
Quarterly Revenue Breakdown
Data previously released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on March 16 paints a picture of steady quarterly performance throughout the year, culminating in the $2.26 billion annual total.
| 2025 Quarter | Export Revenues (USD) |
| First Quarter | $616.21 million |
| Second Quarter | $488.45 million |
| Third Quarter | $563.65 million |
| Fourth Quarter | $599.15 million |
Currency Stabilization
Beyond raw revenue, the strong export sector played a crucial role in macroeconomic stability. The central bank highlighted that the influx of trade revenue—combined with strong foreign exchange inflows from tourism and diaspora remittances—significantly eased pressure on the local currency.
As a result, the depreciation of the Rwandan franc against the US dollar slowed dramatically to just 4.4% in 2025, a stark improvement from the 9.4% depreciation recorded in 2024.
