Rwanda’s import bill reached $6.5 billion in 2024, more than double the $3.1 billion recorded in 2017, leaving the country with a trade deficit of $2.3 billion. Despite the government’s Made in Rwanda strategy, several key products continue to dominate imports.
Top on the list are petroleum products, worth $680 million in 2024, up 9.5% from the previous year. Rice, a staple in most households, ranked second with imports valued at $317 million, a sharp 32.8% increase from 2023. This comes despite local production, which only covered a fraction of national demand—141,900 tons against nearly 597,000 tons required.
Other leading imports include sugar ($238 million), cooking oils ($207 million), cars ($108 million), and cement ($94 million). Imports of fish ($92 million) and electrical cables and equipment ($85 million) also rose, while medical supplies ($82 million) and audio-visual electronics ($75 million) remained significant expenditures, though the latter declined compared to 2023.
Looking ahead, Rwanda projects exports to nearly double from $3.5 billion in 2024 to $7.3 billion in 2029, with the export-to-import ratio improving from 61% to 77%. Strengthening local industries is expected to drive this growth, with exports forecast to rise 13% annually.
