Rwanda: Intra-Africa trade and tariff profile

Intra-Africa trade profile for 2018 

In 2018, Rwanda imported and exported goods to and from the rest of Africa to the value of US$448 million and US$735 million, respectively. Intra-Africa exports accounted for 44% of Rwanda’s total exports and imports for 25% of total imports for 2018. In the same year, Rwanda’s total intra-Africa trade (imports + exports) accounted for 44% of Rwanda’s total trade with the world.

Between 2017 and 2018, Rwanda’s exports to and imports from African countries increased by 15% and 6% respectively.

• In 2018 26% of Rwanda’s intra-Africa exports were petroleum oils. However, exports of petroleum oils declined by 3% between 2017 and 2018.

• Other export products include rice, wheat or meslin flour, animal or vegetable fats and oils, palm oil, bran sharps and other residues, second-hand clothing, dried leguminous vegetables, cereal flours and coffee. The top 10 export products account for 62% of Rwanda’s intra-Africa exports.

• 75% Rwanda’s intra-Africa exports are destined for the DRC, 11% for Uganda and 5% for Burundi. 99% of intra-Africa exports are destined for 8 African countries – DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Egypt and Ethiopia.

• 7% of Rwanda’s intra-Africa imports are cement, 6% are cane or beet sugar and 5% are maize or corn. Other import products include flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel; soap; fish; manioc roots and tubes; rice; animal or vegetable fats and oils; and bricks, blocks, tiles and other ceramic goods.

• The top 10 import products account for 33% of Rwanda’s intra-Africa imports. Intra-Africa imports are mainly sourced from Uganda (accounting for 33% of intra-Africa imports), Kenya (22%), Tanzania (18%) and South Africa (10%). Imports from these four countries account for 83% of Rwanda’s intra-Africa imports.

• In terms of total trade, Rwanda’s main African trade partners include DRC (accounting for 30% of Rwanda’s total intra-Africa trade), Uganda (25%), Kenya (15%), Tanzania (12%) and South Africa (6%).

Intra-Africa import tariffs

Rwanda’s imports from the EAC and COMESA countries (except DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Tunisia) enter duty-free, while goods imported into Rwanda from other African countries outside COMESA and EAC are levied the MFN applied tariff (i.e. EAC CET). The EAC CET tariff bands are duty-free, 10%, 25%, 35%, 50% and 60%.