Rwanda’s coffee sector posted its strongest performance on record in 2025, with export revenues climbing to nearly $150 million, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).
The country exported 23,860 tonnes of green coffee, representing a 39 per cent increase from the previous year, while export earnings surged by 65 per cent.
The growth was driven by higher international prices and improved production, with the average export price rising 19% to $6.2 per kilogramme compared to 2024.
NAEB Chief Executive Claude Bizimana said the results reflect years of sustained investment across the coffee value chain, coupled with favourable weather and expanded market access.
“This performance demonstrates that Rwanda’s coffee sector is on a strong growth trajectory, supported by increased productivity, quality improvement, and strategic market development,” Bizimana said.
He noted that Rwanda has intensified promotion of its coffee in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East, while strengthening its footprint in high-value specialty markets in Europe and North America.
Industry leaders say the rise in global coffee prices significantly boosted export earnings and translated into higher incomes for farmers.
In 2025, growers earned an average of Rwf900 per kilogramme of coffee cherries, well above the minimum farm-gate price.
The record performance positions Rwanda firmly on track to achieve its 2029 national export targets, reinforcing coffee’s role as a key foreign exchange earner and an important source of income for rural communities.
By Andrew Shyaka
