Milk powder market in Rwanda

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, Rwanda's milk powder market volume expanded from 9 237 t to 10 039 t. This growth was primarily supported by the long-running national 'One Cow-One Family' program, which boosted domestic milk output, and the announcement of a new $38 million milk powder plant in the Northern Province by Triomf East Africa, aimed at reducing import dependency. In 2020, the continued rollout of the Girinka cow distribution program, which provided 400 000 cows that year, further strengthened local milk production capacity.

After a slight contraction to 9 759 t in 2021, the market volume rebounded to 10 544 t in 2022. This increase coincided with significant capacity investments by the dominant player Inyange Industries, including a $27 million dairy processing plant in Kigali to handle 800 000 liters daily and stringent new supply agreements with eastern province farmers to secure milk for its nearly completed powder factory in Nyagatare. The market volume then declined to 9 400 t in 2023, a year when Inyange Industries confirmed the impending operational launch of Rwanda's first dedicated milk powder factory in Nyagatare district.

Production milk powder in Rwanda

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of milk powder, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk powder, 2017-2020

Rwanda's milk powder production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 6 974 tonnes of milk powder, marking a 14.5% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 39.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.6%.

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

Exports milk powder from Rwanda

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 61 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 851 tonnes, representing a 14-fold difference between these years. In 2020, milk powder deliveries from Rwanda reached 851 tonnes, up 41.1% from the year before. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 85.0%, while the biggest increase was recorded in 2019, surging by 895.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo dominated Rwanda's milk powder exports in volume, accounting for 98.4% of the total flows.

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

After two years of growth, Rwanda's milk powder exports in value terms declined. In 2020, exports totaled 1 604 thousand US dollars, down 16.4% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 4.8%, with an average annual decline of 1.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 920 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 8.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the export partner base in value terms was extremely narrow, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone responsible for 98.4% of total 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 milk powder to Rwanda

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year rise, Rwanda's milk powder imports in volume declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 3 916 tonnes, a 2.6% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 8.4%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 2.7%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 4 021 tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 10.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands (35.2% of imports in volume), Germany (28.3%), and Belgium (20.0%) formed the main cluster of markets for Rwanda's milk powder imports, together accounting for 83.4% of total flows.

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 milk powder imports in value terms have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 11 049 thousand US dollars, showing a moderate rise of 4.7% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 19.8%, with an average annual increase of 6.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 8 456 thousand US dollars, when imports fell by 8.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, jumping by 24.8%.

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

In the 2017-2020 period, the Netherlands (34.3% of imports in value), Germany (25.7%), and Belgium (18.8%) were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of Rwanda's milk powder imports, with a combined share of 78.9% of total flows.

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

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