The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was Rwanda’s largest export partner in 2023 as the Middle East country accounted for more than half of its goods formally sold abroad, according to the latest report by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Overall, the RDB annual report of 2023 which was published on April 24 showed that Rwanda’s total export receipts reached $3.5 billion (approx. Rwf4.5 trillion), up 17.2 per cent from 2022 revenues.
In the same period, services export revenues were slightly over $1 billion, implying an increase of 18.4 per cent compared to the previous year performance, mainly thanks to recovery in travel.
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On the other hand, goods export receipts were $2.47 billion, an increase of 16.8 per cent when compared to the previous year, the report indicated, attributing the progress to a good performance of manufacturing activities.
Information The New Times got from RDB shows that the $2.47 billion revenues from goods export include informal cross border trade (ICBT). Formal trade, excluding ICBT, was $1.67 billion (approx. Rwf2.1 trillion), with the UAE receiving goods worth $951.1 million (approx. Rwf1.2 trillion) or 56.9 per cent, primarily minerals and horticulture products.
Other countries where Rwanda exported goods [under formal trade] as indicated in the report, are DR Congo which accounted for $173.5 million or 10.4 per cent; China $83.9 million or 5 per cent; Hong Kong $44.1 million or 2.6 per cent; and UK with $37.3 million or 2.2 per cent.
During the year under review, top products exported from Rwanda include gold (including gold plated with platinum), coffee, tea, tantalum (coltan), tin (cassiterite) ores, tungsten (wolfram) ores, maize (corn) flour, and wheat flour; among others.
At the first session of the Joint Committee for Cooperation between Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates, on March 7, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, said that – in terms of economic cooperation – the UAE is Rwanda’s leading trade partner with total trade crossing a $1 billion mark in 2022 up from $100 million in 2012, which implies a 10-fold increase over a decade.
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Information from Rwanda’s Embassy in UAE shows that Rwanda’s major exported goods and merchandise to the country include precious or semi-precious stones and precious metals through Dubai as a hub; coffee, tea, edible fruits and vegetables, as well as products of the milling industry.
Rwanda imports from UAE mainly include petroleum oils, motor vehicles, machines, wires, telephone sets, recording machines, furniture and other equipment.
A supply of goods partnership agreement between the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and Carrefour Supermarket in UAE, it observed, was spurring the growth of Rwanda’s exports to the Middle East nation, citing avocadoes, passion fruits, among other fruits and vegetables.
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RwandAir cargo freight volume up
Meanwhile, the RDB report showed that RwandAir – the national airline – transported 4,595 tonnes of cargo in 2023, with majority of shipments destined for Dubai (the most populous city in UAE); the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
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The export cargo volume in 2023 represents 22.7 per cent increase compared to 3,744 tonnes in 2022.
As per the report, the growth was mainly due to increased capacity out of Kigali to UAE market, greater frequency of flights from Kigali to London, which presented opportunities for more cargo shipments out Kigali; as well as the opening of the route to France.