Citrus fruit market in Rwanda

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market volume for citrus fruit in Rwanda contracted from 25 716 tonnes to 21 476 tonnes. This decline coincided with a reported national decrease in fruit and vegetable production in 2020, which constrained overall supply. In the preceding years, the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) had launched the RwandaFresh brand to enhance the value of horticultural products, and a project for a dedicated wholesale market in Kigali was announced to improve commercialization and reduce post-harvest losses. Additionally, the revised national agricultural policy in 2019 set a long-term framework for sustainable growth by 2030.

Market volume rebounded from 2021 onward, peaking at 27 811 tonnes in 2022 before a slight moderation to 27 142 tonnes in 2023. The recovery was primarily driven by a sharp increase in imports, which rose from 2 674 tonnes in 2020 to 9 151 tonnes in 2022. In 2022, NAEB announced the operational launch of the Kigali wholesale market construction, backed by €25.9 million in EU funding, which aimed to cut post-harvest losses—estimated at 40% for fruits and vegetables—through improved cleaning, grading, and storage services. The start of physical construction in 2023, with the market planned to handle 180 000 tonnes of horticultural produce, further supported supply chain efficiency and export competitiveness.

Production citrus fruit in Rwanda

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

World map of production of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

Rwanda produced 18 806 tonnes of citrus fruit in 2020, marking a modest increase of 1.7% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 20.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 19 336 tonnes, which represented a significant 24.0% increase. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest decline of 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports citrus fruit from Rwanda

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Rwanda exported 3 tonnes of citrus fruit, a dramatic 251.2% increase compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Rwanda's citrus fruit exports were almost exclusively directed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which accounted for 97.7% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Rwanda's citrus fruit exports in 2020 remained unchanged from 2019 at 0.5 thousand US dollars.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Kingdom dominated Rwanda's citrus fruit exports in value terms, together representing 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Rwanda in value, 2017-2020

Imports citrus fruit to Rwanda

Imports in kind, t

Rwanda's citrus fruit imports declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 2 674 tonnes—a sharp 26.1% decrease year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 42.3%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 16.7%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2018 at 6 380 tonnes, which marked a 37.8% increase. However, 2019 saw the largest decline of 43.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda and Tanzania were the primary sources for Rwanda's citrus fruit imports, jointly accounting for 86.9% of total import volumes, while other partners held significantly smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Rwanda's citrus fruit import value declined for the second year in a row in 2020, reaching 1 767 thousand US dollars—a steep 26.4% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import values decreased by 32.2%, translating to an annualized decline of 12.2%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 3 638 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 39.5% increase. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest decline of 34.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Rwanda's citrus fruit imports in value terms were primarily sourced from Uganda and Tanzania, which together represented 81.6% of total import flows, with other destinations playing a minor role.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Rwanda in value, 2017-2020