Rwanda’s coffee sector registered a landmark performance in 2025, with export revenues reaching an unprecedented nearly $150 million. This growth was driven by increased export volumes, rising global coffee prices, and sustained investment in production and market expansion, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). Official data show that Rwanda exported 23,860 tonnes of green (unroasted) coffee in 2025, earning more than $148.6 million (over Rwf216 billion), compared to 17,142 tonnes valued at $89.8 million in 2024. This represents a 65 per cent increase in export revenues and a 39 per cent rise in export volumes year on year. The strong performance was also supported by firmer prices on the international market, with the average export price rising by 19 per cent to $6.2 per kilogramme in 2025, from $5.2 in 2024. ALSO READ: Switzerland, US, UK top buyers of Rwanda’s coffee Within this strong overall performance, traditional markets in Europe and North America remained Rwanda’s principal coffee buyers, while emerging destinations, particularly China, continued to register steady growth. This, NAEB chief executive Claude Bizimana, told The New Times, reflects “the growing demand for Rwandan coffee in new consumption markets.” According to NAEB data on the top 10 destination countries, Belgium emerged as Rwanda’s largest coffee buyer in 2025, importing more than 4,737 tonnes valued at $32.29 million, reflecting its role as one of Europe’s major coffee trading hubs. The United States ranked second, purchasing over 2,581 tonnes worth $19.12 million, underscoring sustained demand for Rwandan specialty coffee in North America. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s coffee export revenues hit record $150m in 2025 Other major European buyers included Russia (over 1,958 tonnes for $10.83 million), Sweden (1,776 tonnes, $10.72 million), and the Netherlands (1,719 million tonnes, $10.45 million). Italy imported 1,287 tonnes valued at $8.38 million, while the United Kingdom bought 960 tonnes worth $7.33 million. On the Asian continent, China, an emerging destination, imported 869 tonnes valued at $5.97 million, reflecting growing coffee consumption in new markets outside Rwanda’s traditional export base. Back to Europe, Switzerland purchased 860 tonnes valued at $4.88 million. ALSO READ: Rising prices offer Rwanda’s coffee sector a boost Regionally, South Sudan imported a relatively large volume of 1,299 tonnes, but generated just $2.14 million in revenues, highlighting sharp contrasts in export earnings across markets. Data from NAEB indicate that some countries achieved higher export revenues despite purchasing smaller volumes of coffee than others with larger import quantities. This disparity is largely attributable to differences in prices, which reflect variations in coffee quality, market positioning, and consumer preferences. Bizimana said export revenues are not determined by volumes alone, indicating that price differences matter in determining the revenues generated from coffee exports in different countries. “The average price is about $6.5 per kilogramme, with a minimum of $5.5 and a maximum of $7.6,” Bizimana said, pointing out that South Sudan is an exception as it mainly imports very low grades, with an average price of around $1.7 per kilogramme. Overall, Rwanda’s performance in 2025 suggests the country is on track to meet its target to export 32,000 tonnes of coffee and generate $192 million in revenues by 2029, under the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), according to NAEB.
