This growth builds on an annual average increase of 9.4%, reflecting the country's continued efforts to strengthen and diversify its industrial base.
Among the sectors driving this expansion, electricity production stood out with a remarkable 23.2% year-on-year increase.
This substantial growth highlights the ongoing improvements in energy infrastructure and a rising demand for power, both from industrial users and households.
Electricity alone contributed 4.4 percentage points to the overall annual changeâ€"making it the most influential factor behind March's performance.
Manufacturing, Rwanda's largest industrial subsector by weight, recorded a 1.7% increase.
Within this category, food processing performed particularly well, growing by 7.8% compared to March last year.
The furniture and other manufacturing segment also saw a strong 19.3% rise, suggesting growing activity in small-scale production and consumer goods.
However, not all segments fared equallyâ€"textiles, clothing, and leather goods fell sharply by 11.2%, and the wood, paper, and printing industries declined by 8.2%, signaling possible structural or demand-related challenges in those areas.
Mining and quarrying, another key industrial activity, experienced a 4.1% increase compared to March 2024, while water and waste management rose modestly by 1.4%.
These sectors contributed marginally to the overall index but remained part of the broader industrial expansion.
On a month-to-month basis, March 2025 also showed signs of healthy momentum, with output rising by 3.9% compared to February.
Mining activity was especially dynamic during this period, jumping by 17.2%, while the manufacturing of beverages and tobacco products increased by 11.4%.
This upward trend illustrates Rwanda's broader push toward industrialization, supported by strategic investments, policy reforms, and a commitment to reducing reliance on imports.
Théophile Niyitegeka
Source : https://en.igihe.com/economy/article/rwanda-s-industrial-output-increases-by-5-in-march-2025
