Rwanda’s trade deficit stood at $252.02 million in July 2025, marking a 17.11 per cent drop compared to the same month last year, figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show. A trade deficit occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds that of its exports. ALSO READ: What can Rwanda do to reduce its trade deficit? According to the Formal External Trade in Goods report released by NISR on September 4, the deficit also fell by 16.01 per cent compared to June 2025. Exports, imports, and re-exports registered mixed performances. The value of domestic exports declined by 2.95 per cent compared to June 2025 and by 55.11 per cent year-on-year. ALSO READ: Made in Rwanda: Boosting local production vital to address trade deficit, experts say In July, the United Arab Emirates remained Rwanda’s top export destination, accounting for 35.30 per cent of total exports valued at $38.65 million. It was followed by DR Congo with 31.67 per cent, equivalent to $34.68 million, and China with 11.29 per cent, worth $12.36 million. Re-exports increased slightly by 3.30 per cent compared to June 2025 but fell by 15.87 per cent compared to the same period last year. They were largely destined for the DR Congo, which absorbed 96.78 per cent of the total, valued at $49.79 million. Imports, on the other hand, dropped by 10.75 per cent compared to June 2025 and by 32.20 per cent against July 2024. China topped the list of destinations with 23.23 per cent, valued at $95.94 million. Tanzania followed with 11.36 per cent ($46.90 million), Kenya with 8.70 per cent ($35.94 million), the United Arab Emirates with 8.65 per cent ($35.73 million), and India with 6.12 per cent ($25.29 million).
