Formal External 
Trade in Goods 
April, 2026 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
STATISTICS OF RWANDA
Published in May, 2026

Copyright © 2026 National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). Licensed under CC BY 4.0
This Report is produced by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). Additional information about the Formal External 
Trade in Goods
P .O Box : 6139 Kigali, Rwanda 
Tel: +250 788 383103 
Hotline: 4321 
Recommended citation: 
National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), (2026), monthly Formal Extenal Trade in Goods.
Email: info@statistics.gov.rw
Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
2
Balance of Trade
The deficit in the balance of formal trade in goods was US$ 291.88 million in April 2026; an increase of 
27.77 percent compared to the previous month of March 2026. Year-to-year, the formal trade in goods deficit 
increased by 25.74 percent on the deficit of April 2025.
Table 1. Summary of Formal External Trade in Goods 
FLOW
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/
Mar2026
Apr2026/Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
A. Total Exports (f.o.b)
148.51
226.29
224.70
28.07
33.23
30.31
-0.71%
51.30%
       Domestic exports
105.42
151.84
165.86
19.92
22.30
22.37
9.23%
57.33%
        Re-exports
43.10
74.45
58.84
8.14
10.93
7.94
-20.97%
36.53%
B. Total Imports (c.i.f)
380.65
454.73
516.57
71.93
66.77
69.69
13.60%
35.71%
Total External Trade (A+B)
529.16
681.02
741.27
100.00
100.00
100.00
8.85%
40.08%
Trade Balance (A-B)
-232.13
-228.44
-291.88
27.77%
25.74%
Note: I – Revised,
1Preliminary figures
Monthly Statistics of External Trade in Goods of April 
2026

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
3
Exports
In April 2026 domestic exports value increased by 9.23 per cent compared to March 2026 and by 57.33 
percent compared to April 2025. Table 2 shows the values of exported goods in April 2026 by SITC sections.
Table 2. Total Domestic Exports of Goods by S.I.T.C Sections in April 2026
SITC SECTION/DESCRIPTION
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/Mar2026
Apr2026/Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
0 - Food and live animals
28.39
27.44
33.31
26.93
18.07
20.09
21.41%
17.35%
1 - Beverages and tobacco
0.76
1.00
1.08
0.72
0.66
0.65
7.71%
42.76%
2 - Crude materials, inedible, 
except fuels
21.35
67.38
85.40
20.26
44.38
51.49
26.75%
299.93%
3 - Mineral fuels, lubricants and 
related materials
0.25
0.17
0.30
0.24
0.11
0.18
75.87%
18.65%
4 - Animals and vegetable oils, 
fats & waxes
7.29
13.20
10.90
6.91
8.69
6.57
-17.38%
49.67%
5 - Chemicals & related products, 
n.e.s.
1.71
17.09
3.15
1.63
11.26
1.90
-81.55%
83.99%
6 - Manufactured goods 
classified chiefly by material
12.00
15.92
15.17
11.38
10.49
9.15
-4.75%
26.40%
7 - Machinery and transport 
equipment
1.96
0.78
0.82
1.86
0.52
0.50
4.84%
-57.93%
8 - Miscellaneous manufactured 
articles
2.41
1.72
3.63
2.29
1.14
2.19
110.52%
50.52%
9 - Other commodities & 
transactions, n.e.s
29.30
7.12
12.08
27.79
4.69
7.29
69.68%
-58.76%
Total Domestic Exports
105.42
151.84
165.86
100.00
100.00
100.00
9.23%
57.33%
Note: I – Revised,  
1Preliminary figures

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
4
Imports
In April 2026 imports value increased by 13.6 per cent compared to March 2026 and by 35.71 per cent 
compared to April 2025. Table 3 shows the value of imported goods in April 2026 by SITC sections.
Table 3. Total Imports of Goods by S.I.T.C Sections in April 2026
SITC SECTION/DESCRIPTION
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/Mar2026
Apr2026/Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
0 - Food and live animals
71.33
77.43
98.30
18.74
17.03
19.03
26.96%
37.82%
1 - Beverages and tobacco
8.55
13.03
12.36
2.25
2.87
2.39
-5.13%
44.58%
2 - Crude materials, inedible, 
except fuels
14.27
14.29
19.78
3.75
3.14
3.83
38.40%
38.64%
3 - Mineral fuels, lubricants 
and related materials
52.08
61.97
57.00
13.68
13.63
11.03
-8.02%
9.44%
4 - Animals and vegetable oils, 
fats & waxes
26.59
20.25
29.45
6.99
4.45
5.70
45.42%
10.75%
5 - Chemicals & related 
products, n.e.s.
49.90
46.46
62.74
13.11
10.22
12.15
35.03%
25.74%
6 - Manufactured goods 
classified chiefly by material
54.29
77.61
90.22
14.26
17.07
17.46
16.25%
66.19%
7 - Machinery and transport 
equipment
73.87
109.45
100.78
19.41
24.07
19.51
-7.92%
36.43%
8 - Miscellaneous 
manufactured articles
27.79
27.65
32.78
7.30
6.08
6.35
18.54%
17.94%
9 - Other commodities & 
transactions, n.e.s
1.99
6.59
13.16
0.52
1.45
2.55
99.60%
561.23%
Total Imports
380.65
454.73
516.57
100.00
100.00
100.00
13.60%
35.71%
Note: I – Revised
1Preliminary figures

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
5
Re-exports
In April 2026, re-export values have decreased by 20.97 percent compared to March 2026 and increased by 
36.53 per cent compared to April 2025.
Table 4. Total Re-exports of Goods by S.I.T.C Sections in April 2026
SITC SECTION/DESCRIPTION
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/
Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/
Mar2026
Apr2026/
Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
0 - Food and live animals
15.77
23.77
23.19
36.59
31.93
39.41
-2.46%
47.04%
1 - Beverages and tobacco
3.67
6.77
5.34
8.51
9.09
9.08
-21.03%
45.70%
2 - Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
0.96
1.10
0.93
2.22
1.48
1.58
-15.39%
-2.67%
3 - Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
8.60
28.82
13.58
19.95
38.71
23.07
-52.90%
57.92%
4 - Animals and vegetable oils, fats & waxes
1.78
0.65
1.41
4.13
0.87
2.40
117.61%
-20.69%
5 - Chemicals & related products, n.e.s.
4.13
3.51
4.40
9.58
4.71
7.48
25.50%
6.57%
6 - Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
4.03
4.45
4.73
9.36
5.98
8.04
6.32%
17.37%
7 - Machinery and transport equipment
2.68
3.23
3.45
6.22
4.33
5.87
7.03%
28.77%
8 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles
1.48
2.15
1.70
3.43
2.89
2.89
-20.85%
15.01%
9 - Other commodities & transactions, n.e.s
0.01
0.00
0.10
0.02
0.00
0.17
0.00%
1443.99%
Total Re-exports
43.10
74.45
58.84
100.00
100.00
100.00
-20.97%
36.53%
Note: ® – Revised
1Preliminaryfigures

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
6
Trading Partners
Table 5. Main Trading Partner Countries in April 2026 – Exports 
Country
Exports (f.o.b.)
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/
Mar2026
Apr2026/
Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
1
China
10.37
48.03
47.74
9.84
31.63
28.79
-0.01
3.60
2
Congo, The Democratic 
Republic Of
21.23
47.78
28.28
20.14
31.46
17.05
-0.41
0.33
3
United Arab Emirates
32.75
6.04
18.21
31.07
3.98
10.98
2.02
-0.44
4
Netherlands
1.53
5.59
10.20
1.45
3.68
6.15
0.82
5.68
5
United States
3.24
5.06
8.60
3.07
3.33
5.18
0.70
1.65
6
Singapore
0.45
1.04
5.49
0.42
0.69
3.31
4.26
11.25
7
India
1.00
5.00
5.32
0.95
3.29
3.21
0.06
4.31
8
United Kingdom
2.79
3.85
4.76
2.65
2.54
2.87
0.23
0.70
9
Burundi
1.43
2.27
4.11
1.36
1.49
2.48
0.81
1.87
10
Pakistan
3.24
3.44
3.27
3.08
2.27
1.97
-0.05
0.01
Rest of the World
27.37
23.74
29.87
25.97
15.63
18.01
0.26
0.09
Total
105.42
151.84
165.86
100.00
100.00
100.00
9.23%
57.33%
Note: ® – Revised
1Preliminaryfigures
Rank

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
7
Table 6. Main Trading Partner Countries in April 2026–Re-exports 
Country
Re-Exports (f.o.b.)
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/
Mar2026
Apr2026/
Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
1
Congo, The Democratic 
Republic Of
41.29
60.24
53.11
95.81
80.91
90.26
-11.84%
28.62%
2
Ethiopia
0.50
1.22
1.36
1.16
1.64
0.82
10.79%
171.21%
3
United Arab Emirates
0.36
0.79
0.68
0.84
1.06
0.41
-13.63%
86.95%
4
Burundi
0.08
0.72
0.64
0.19
0.96
0.38
-11.15%
669.82%
5
France
0.05
0.09
0.23
0.12
0.12
0.14
171.03%
366.16%
6
Congo
0.00
0.11
0.15
0.00
0.14
0.09
37.74%
9636.73%
7
Greece
0.06
0.15
0.13
0.13
0.20
0.08
-13.51%
126.28%
8
South Sudan
0.07
0.06
0.13
0.17
0.08
0.08
121.71%
78.04%
9
Tanzania, United Republic Of
0.03
0.25
0.10
0.07
0.33
0.06
-61.23%
214.32%
10
Turkey
0.08
0.14
0.08
0.19
0.19
0.05
-42.94%
-2.12%
Rest of the World
0.56
10.69
2.24
1.30
14.36
1.35
-79.06%
298.41%
Total
43.10
74.45
58.84
100.00
100.00
100.00
-20.97%
36.53%
Note: ® – Revised
1Preliminaryfigures
Table 7. Main Imports Partner Countries in April 2026
Country
Imports (c.i.f.)
Value: US $ Million
Shares in percentage
Percentage Increase/
Decrease
2025
2026
2025
2026
Apr2026/
Mar2026
Apr2026/
Apr2025
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
Apr(R)
Mar¹
Apr¹
1
China
79.35
123.66
140.86
20.85
27.19
27.27
13.91%
77.53%
2
India
43.45
52.37
75.14
11.42
11.52
14.55
43.48%
72.93%
3
Tanzania, United Republic Of
42.72
34.99
58.55
11.22
7.69
11.33
67.35%
37.04%
4
Uganda
19.53
29.28
35.43
5.13
6.44
6.86
20.99%
81.39%
5
Kenya
24.56
28.74
34.56
6.45
6.32
6.69
20.28%
392.67%
6
Malaysia
6.94
17.22
19.25
1.82
3.79
3.73
11.76%
177.46%
7
United Arab Emirates
21.95
51.82
19.21
5.77
11.39
3.72
-62.92%
-12.47%
8
United States
8.00
5.37
11.39
2.10
1.18
2.21
112.06%
42.48%
9
Pakistan
5.59
8.88
10.17
1.47
1.95
1.97
14.62%
81.95%
10
Germany
6.16
5.93
9.71
1.62
1.30
1.88
63.73%
57.70%
Rest of the World
122.40
96.48
102.29
32.16
21.22
19.80
6.03%
-16.43%
Total
380.65
454.73
516.57
100.00
100.00
100.00
13.60%
35.71%
Note: (R) – Revised
1Preliminary figures
Rank
Rank

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
8
Table 8. Trade in Goods by Mode of Transport (Values in US $ Million)
                                 Imports                                                              Exports                                                           Re-exports
                  2025               2026
2025                 2026
    2025
2026
Apr (R)
1-Mar
1-Apr
Apr (R)
1-Mar
1-Apr
Apr (R)
1-Mar
1-Apr
Air
37.51
30.19
50.06
33.94
34.12
43.20
1.11
12.85
2.61
Land
343.14
424.54
466.52
71.48
117.72
122.66
41.98
61.60
56.23
Total
380.65
454.73
516.57
105.42
151.84
165.86
43.10
74.45
58.84
Note: (R) – Revised
1Preliminary figures

Formal External Trade in Goods 
© NISR
9
Acronyms used:
c.i.f: Cost, Insurance and Freight		
	
	
f.o.b: Free On Board	
	
	
	
	
S.I.T.C: Standard International Trade Classification	
	
n.e.s: Not Elsewhere Specified
Mar: March
Apr: April