China remained Rwanda’s top trading partner in the second quarter of 2026, with the value of goods traded between the two countries reaching $558.27 million (approximately Rwf825.6 billion), according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).

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The figure was made up of $415.89 million in imports from China and $142.38 million in Rwanda’s domestic exports to the Chinese market, according to the formal external trade in goods Q2 report released by NISR on September 23.

China’s position is not new. It was already Rwanda’s largest source of imports in the second quarter of 2025, when Rwanda imported goods worth $275.63 million from China, while domestic exports to China stood at $40.88 million.

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Q2 figures cover trade between April and June and were compiled from data collected by the Rwanda Revenue Authority’s Customs Department.

By Q2 2026, imports from China had increased by 50.9 per cent compared with the same quarter a year earlier, while exports to China more than tripled.

Exports more than triple

Rwanda’s domestic exports to China increased from $40.88 million in Q2 2025 to $142.38 million in Q2 2026.

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The latest figure made China Rwanda’s largest export destination during the quarter, accounting for 25.93 per cent of total domestic exports.

The United Arab Emirates followed with $107.96 million, while DR Congo ranked third with $89.51 million.

Rwanda’s total domestic exports increased by 58.65 per cent year on year, from $346.04 million in Q2 2025 to $548.98 million in Q2 2026.

China remains biggest source of imports

China also remained Rwanda’s largest source of imports, accounting for $415.89 million, or 25.89 per cent of total imports during the quarter.

Tanzania was the second-largest source with $182.93 million, followed by India with $182.52 million. Kenya and Uganda followed with $106.10 million and $90.16 million, respectively.

Overall, Rwanda’s imports increased by 28.78 per cent year on year to $1.606 billion in Q2 2026, from $1.247 billion in the same quarter of 2025.

Rwanda’s total trade in goods reached $2.335 billion during the quarter, up 34.51 per cent from Q2 2025.