Market research

Maize market in Rwanda

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, Rwanda's maize market volume reached 561.5 thousand tonnes, supported by the launch of the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 4) aimed at increasing productivity and storage capacity, alongside favorable rainy seasons that boosted agricultural output. The market contracted to 498.3 thousand tonnes in 2019, primarily due to a sharp drop in imports. Recovery followed in 2020, with volume rising to 524.8 thousand tonnes as widespread adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices, including terracing, irrigation, and farmer training, helped increase domestic production.

Market growth continued into 2021, reaching 550.1 thousand tonnes, while government transformation programs remained active. In 2022, the market volume increased further to 599.2 thousand tonnes, driven by a significant surge in imports, even though domestic production experienced a slight decline that year.

A substantial expansion occurred in 2023, with the maize market volume jumping to 749.4 thousand tonnes. This rise was fueled by increased production to 508.5 thousand tonnes, linked to large-scale terracing efforts that reduced soil erosion and improved yields, alongside a major growth in imports to 241.4 thousand tonnes.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Rwanda
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Rwanda in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Rwanda in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Rwanda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Rwanda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Rwanda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Rwanda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Rwanda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production maize in Rwanda

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Rwanda produced 448.6 thousand tonnes of maize, marking a gradual increase of 6.5% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 9.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 0.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	(0.7%)	6.5%	3.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize from Rwanda

Exports in kind, K t

Rwanda's maize export volume declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 0.1 thousand tonnes, showing a slight reduction of 1.3% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 98%, which equates to an annualized decline of 72.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(88.5%)	(82.0%)	(1.3%)	(72.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Burundi remained the primary destination for Rwanda's maize exports in kind, accounting for 77.6% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed across various smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Maize export volumes from Rwanda declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 33 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp drop of 30.5% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 92.7%, with an average annual decline of 58.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(83.5%)	(36.6%)	(30.5%)	(58.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were the core markets for Rwanda's maize exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 84.9% of total flows. Other destinations had relatively modest shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize to Rwanda

Imports in kind, K t

Foreign maize supplies to Rwanda declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume came to 76.2 thousand tonnes, representing a 1.2% contraction year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 45.3%, with an average annual decline of 18.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.1%)	(44.0%)	(1.2%)	(18.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda and Tanzania jointly absorbed 85.3% of Rwanda's total maize imports in kind, with the rest of the volume scattered across smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of maize imports into Rwanda totalled 28 965 thousand US dollars, amounting to a gain of 25.6% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 23 068 thousand US dollars, while the maximum value was in 2018 at 30 939 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 25.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.2%	(25.4%)	25.6%	0.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya stood out as the main sources for Rwanda's maize imports in value terms. Uganda accounted for 36.6% of imports, Tanzania for 27.4%, and Kenya for 14.2%, together representing 78.3% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io