Rwanda’s coffee exports are on the rise, says export development board

The Kigali-based newspaper, The New Times, reports that the figures were released by the country’s National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) at an event earlier in November. 

It quotes the CEO of the NAEB, Claude Bizimana, as saying that two factors drove the strong performance: the maturity of replanted coffee trees and a strong rally in global coffee prices. 

Under the Rwandan government’s Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation, the country wants to raise its coffee export volumes to 32,000 tonnes by 2028/2029. The plan emphasises improving productivity, modernising processing facilities, and expanding access to premium markets. 

Rwanda is sixth-largest African coffee exporter 

Rwanda ranks as Africa’s sixth-largest coffee exporter – behind Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya.  

“While smaller than these major players, the Rwandan sector continues to benefit from favourable market conditions and targeted government support,” comments Agence Ecofin, an information agency specialising in public management and the African economy. 

For years, Ethiopia has been synonymous with African coffee. But the website Coffee Intelligence reports that, in a quiet but formidable shift, Uganda has seemingly taken the lead by exporting 7.17million bags worth $1.97-billion in the past year. 

Rwandan domestic consumption on the rise 

Rwanda’s coffee industry is also being boosted by an increase in domestic coffee consumption. 

According to the NAEB, there has been progress in Rwanda’s domestic coffee consumption, driven by changing consumer habits, government initiatives, and a growing appreciation for locally produced coffee.