Rwanda’s coffee export revenues fell by 32.1 per cent, dropping to $78.7 million (approx. Rwf110 billion) in 2023/2024, from over $115.9 million the previous fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). This drop in earnings was partly due to a 17.9 per cent decrease in export volumes, which fell from over 20,000 tonnes in 2022/2023 to just above 16,400 tonnes in 2023/2024. As per the ministry’s 2023/2024 report, climate change and fluctuating global coffee prices were the major factors behind the downturn in the country’s export performance. ALSO READ: Rwanda's coffee exports poised for recovery amid rising prices Data from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) shows that the average international price for Rwandan coffee declined by 17.3 per cent—from $5.78 per kilogram in 2022/2023 to $4.78 per kilogram in 2023/2024. A look at 12 major buyers of Rwanda’s coffee: who spent the most? Information from NAEB shows that the revenue generated from coffee exports in 2023/2024 – the latest fiscal year with comprehensive performance – varied depending on the destination market, suggesting that different markets paid different prices for Rwandan coffee brands. ALSO READ: How high prices buoyed Rwanda coffee exports Switzerland was the largest buyer of Rwandan coffee in 2023/2024, importing more than 3,710 tonnes worth over $18.4 million, or 23 per cent of the total coffee export revenues in the year under review. It was followed by the United States, which bought over 1,915 tonnes valued at nearly $11 million (almost 14 per cent of the total), and the United Kingdom – as the third largest buyer – which imported more than 1,254 tonnes for over $6.6 million ( or 8 per cent). Other key markets in 2023/2024 were: Sweden: 856 tonnes, generating nearly $4 million Italy: 898 tonnes, over $3.4 million Germany: 655 tonnes, $3.4 million Japan: 529 tonnes, $3.3 million Finland: 730 tonnes, $3.1 million Russia: 753 tonnes, $2.51 million Belgium: 585 tonnes, $2.5 million China: 400 tonnes, $2 million Netherlands: 421 tonnes, $1.8 million ALSO READ: Rwanda moves to replace aging coffee trees, boost production Despite recent challenges that resulted in reduced coffee export earnings in the previous fiscal year, the increasing prices at the international markets for the beverage product offer hope for a stronger performance in the current fiscal year – 2024/2025 – according to exporters. Rwanda targets to generate $85 million in coffee exports in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, and $115.5 million in 2028/2029, according to the fifth edition of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), which runs from 2024/2025 to 2028/2029. This is expected to be achieved through interventions including the increase of coffee for exports from 16,400 tonnes in 2023/2024 to more than 21,300 tonnes in 2024/2025, and 32,000 tonnes in 2028/2029. Under PSTA 5, Rwanda also plans to expand the area under coffee cultivation from 42,229 ha in 2023 to 44,729 in 2028/2029.
