Rwanda’s first milk-powder factory will begin producing consumer-ready products by September to serve both local and export markets, The New Times has learned. Launched in mid-2024, the plant is owned by Inyange Industries. It has so far only produced industrial-grade milk powder for reconstituted milk, not direct consumption. For the past one year, it has sold 718 tonnes of such powder, with 90 percent exported and the rest sold locally. The current price is about Rwf8,000 per kilogram, aligned with international rates. “We are diversifying to produce instant milk powder so that people can use it just like NIDO [an imported milk powder brand],” the company's Managing Director, James Biseruka, said on August 8 during a tour of the facility by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva. He added that the consumer-ready product could be available as early as September, with prices to be announced. ALSO READ: Eleven things about Rwanda’s first powder milk plant The instant milk powder will be packaged in various sizes, including 1kg and 500g options, to better serve the local market, he pointed out. This is unlike the current industrial grade option that is available in 25kg packs. He stated that the shift will allow the company to meet growing domestic demand and offer milk powder for direct consumption, in addition to supplying industries that make reconstituted milk and other relevant products. Biseruka said the Inyange Milk Powder Plant, established at a cost of $54 million, has the capacity to process 650,000 litres of milk per day – consisting of 500,000 litres into milk powder and 150,000 litres into UHT liquid milk. This production volume translates into about Rwf7.2 billion paid monthly to local dairy farmers, or roughly Rwf93 billion annually, contributing significantly to Rwanda’s economy, he observed. Currently, Biseruka said, the plant is operating at 31 per cent capacity. The company aims to increase this to 45 per cent by the end of the year, with gradual growth expected as supply and demand continue to rise, he indicated. To support its increased production capacity, Biseruka said, Inyange has expanded its network of milk collection centres (MCCs) from 40 to 139 across the country. The company also provides support training to dairy farmers to help them meet the quality standards required for both local and export markets. Biseruka also indicated that the company has obtained the necessary quality certifications for international exports. Its milk powder is already being shipped to markets in Turkey, Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, and Tanzania, with plans to expand to additional markets such as Qatar and Zimbabwe. Prime Minister Nsengiyumva appreciated the factory’s operations and encouraged stronger collaboration between the firm and dairy farmers to ensure a sustainable and high-quality milk supply. “There is no shortage of market for milk. Even our children, if they are adequately fed with milk, can consume more than what you produce [currently],” he said, underscoring the importance of boosting domestic supply.
