The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), is pleased to announce that agricultural exports generated $1.1 billion between July 2025 and June 2026, up from $893 million recorded in the previous fiscal year. The performance represents a 24.3 per cent increase and comes as Rwanda continues to position agriculture as an increasingly competitive source of foreign exchange and economic growth.

Commenting on the milestone, Claude Bizimana, Chief Executive Officer of NAEB, described the achievement as an important indicator of Rwanda’s progress in transforming its agricultural export sector.

“Surpassing the US$1 billion mark is a significant achievement for Rwanda’s agricultural export sector and reflects the Country’s commitment to transforming the sector and strengthening its position in global markets,” Bizimana said.

Infrastructure investment laying the foundation for growth

The milestone comes against the backdrop of sustained Government investment in infrastructure designed to address some of the key constraints affecting agricultural exports.

Through NAEB, Government has invested in specialized facilities that support quality testing, certification, post-harvest handling, storage, sorting and preparation of products for international markets.

Among the key investments is the Specialized Export Quality Infrastructure (SEQI), which strengthens Rwanda’s capacity to test agricultural products and support compliance with international quality and safety requirements.

The infrastructure is particularly important as international buyers increasingly require exporters to demonstrate that products meet strict specifications before entering their markets.

For horticulture, Government has also invested in pack house infrastructure aimed at reducing losses and preserving the quality of highly perishable products between the farm and the export market.

Traceability strengthening Rwanda’s credibility

As global agricultural markets increasingly demand greater transparency about the origin and handling of food products, traceability has become an important part of Rwanda’s export strategy.

Through NAEB, Government has been strengthening traceability systems across agricultural value chains to enable products to be linked to their source and to provide greater assurance about how they are produced, handled and exported.

The objective is to make Rwanda’s agricultural products not only available on international markets but also increasingly trusted and competitive within those markets.

Quality assurance helping products meet international standards

Quality assurance is another pillar of the Government’s export development strategy.

Through NAEB, exporters and other value-chain actors have access to testing and quality-assurance services designed to verify whether products meet required specifications.

The development of specialized testing infrastructure strengthens Rwanda’s ability to undertake more quality assessments locally and provides exporters with stronger support in demonstrating compliance with international requirements.

In coffee and tea, quality assessment is particularly important because characteristics such as flavour, aroma, body, colour and other attributes influence how products are valued by international buyers.

Opening markets and promoting Rwanda’s products

Through NAEB, Government has continued to support market promotion, participation in international trade fairs, business missions and engagement with potential buyers.

These initiatives provide exporters with opportunities to showcase Rwandan products, understand international market requirements and establish commercial relationships.

Connecting Rwandan exporters with international buyers

Government has also placed emphasis on strengthening linkages between Rwandan producers and exporters and international buyers.

NAEB facilitates interactions between value-chain actors and overseas buyers, helping exporters better understand market demand, quality specifications and commercial expectations.

Driving innovations and technology in export sector

Innovation and technology are increasingly becoming important drivers of Rwanda’s agricultural export competitiveness, helping value-chain actors improve quality, identify new market opportunities and connect Rwandan products with buyers around the world.

Through NAEB, Government is supporting the adoption of innovative approaches and technologies across agricultural value chains, including systems that strengthen quality management, traceability, post-harvest handling, market access and the promotion of high-value products.

In the coffee sector, innovation is also being used to strengthen Rwanda’s position in the growing specialty coffee market. A key example is the annual Best of Rwanda Specialty Coffee Competition, which brings together Rwanda’s finest coffees and subjects them to rigorous national and international evaluation.

The competition provides a platform for producers and exporters to showcase exceptional coffees, receive recognition for quality and connect Rwanda’s specialty coffees with international buyers. 

The initiative also contributes to a culture of continuous quality improvement, encouraging producers and other value-chain actors to understand how quality is assessed and how exceptional coffees can command greater attention in international markets.

Raising productivity to sustain export growth

The increase in export earnings is also underpinned by efforts to increase productivity at farm level.

Through NAEB programmes, Government supports farmers with improved climate resilient seeds, planting materials, technical knowledge, extension support and interventions aimed at improving crop productivity and quality.

Empowering farmers 

At the centre of Rwanda’s agricultural export strategy are farmers, whose decisions and practices ultimately determine the quality and volume of products entering the export chain.

Through NAEB, Government supports farmer awareness and capacity building on issues ranging from production practices and quality requirements to harvesting, post-harvest handling and market expectations.

While celebrating the $1.1 billion milestone, NAEB says the achievement is a platform for further growth rather than an endpoint.

Bizimana said the next phase will focus on increasing export earnings, expanding Rwanda’s products and market base, strengthening value addition and building resilience.

“As Rwanda advances towards the goals of the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the 5^th Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5), NAEB remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to further increase export earnings, diversify products and markets, enhance value addition, strengthen resilience,” he said.