Industrial output increased by 7.2 per cent in September 2026 compared with the same month last year, driven largely by growth in electricity generation and mining activities, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
The growth was higher than the annual average increase of 5.6 per cent recorded during the period, reflecting improved performance across most industrial activities.
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Electricity output registered the strongest annual growth, rising by 15.5 per cent, followed by mining and quarrying, which increased by 12 per cent. Water and waste management output grew by 11.5 per cent, while manufacturing recorded a modest increase of 0.4 per cent.
Despite recording a lower growth rate than mining, electricity made the largest contribution to the overall increase in industrial output, accounting for three percentage points. Manufacturing contributed 2.4 percentage points, while mining and quarrying added 1.6 percentage points.
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Manufacturing records modest growth
Manufacturing, which accounts for 68.1 per cent of the industrial production index, registered a 0.4 per cent annual increase.
The performance was supported by food processing, which grew by 1.7 per cent, beverage and tobacco manufacturing, which increased by 4.8 per cent, and metal products, machinery and equipment, which recorded a 6.1 per cent rise.
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Other manufacturing activities also registered annual growth, including wood, paper and printing (3.3 per cent), chemicals, rubber and plastic products (3.4 per cent), and furniture and other manufacturing (4.6 per cent).
However, manufacturing output declined by 8.1 per cent compared with August 2026, indicating a slowdown on a monthly basis.
Mining and quarrying output increased by 9.2 per cent compared with August, while electricity output declined by 4.4 per cent over the same period.
Industrial output edges up monthly
Overall industrial production increased by 0.9 per cent between August and September.
The increase came despite monthly declines in manufacturing and electricity, with mining and quarrying recording strong recovery and water and waste management output remaining almost unchanged, declining by 0.1 per cent.
NISR's industrial production index tracks monthly output among businesses operating in the formal sector, defined as those registered with tax authorities.
The index covers mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, and water and waste management. It excludes construction activities because of data limitations.