According to NISR reports, the DRC remained Rwanda's second-largest export market, trailing only the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between January and September 2024.
However, Rwanda imports minimal goods from the DRC, which does not feature among the top 10 sources of Rwandan imports.
Key exports included unprocessed foods and livestock, beverages, raw materials, skincare products, cooking oils, and processed foods.
Overall export highlights
In January 2024, the DRC ranked as the second-largest importer of goods from Rwanda, purchasing products valued at $17.42 million (Frw 23.81 billion). This represented a 21.61% increase compared to December 2023, when exports were valued at $14.32 million (Frw 19.57 billion).
Re-exports to the DRC also saw significant activity, with the country leading this category in January 2024. Goods worth Frw 68.98 billion were re-exported, marking a 6.94% increase from December 2023 (Frw 64.51 billion).
However, February 2024 saw a slight decline in exports of Rwandan-origin goods to the DRC, which dropped by 6.61% to Frw 22.24 billion from Frw 23.81 billion in January.
Re-exports also experienced a decrease of 7.57%, falling to Frw 63.76 billion compared to the previous month.
In the first nine months of 2024, the DRC emerged as the top destination for re-exports through Rwanda, receiving goods valued at Frw 667.36 billion. Other significant re-export markets included Burundi and Ethiopia, which alternated as secondary importers during the period.
Despite strained bilateral relations since 2022, currently under mediation, trade between Rwanda and the DRC has remained robust.
IGIHE
