Poultry meat and offal market in Rwanda

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, Rwanda's market for poultry meat and offal contracted significantly, with production volume falling from 39 415 t to 17 699 t and total market size declining from 39 412 t to 19 842 t. This drop in local output was largely due to rising feed costs, which increased production expenses and reduced profitability for poultry farmers, leading to lower supply.

Despite the production challenges, the government supported the sector through investment incentives, technology co-funding programs, and by hosting major industry events like the Poultry Africa expos in Kigali. These efforts aimed to modernize poultry farming and attract private investment, which helped stimulate import growth to partially meet domestic demand during the period.

In 2024, new regulations were introduced, including a ban on poultry sales outside authorized sites and stricter national standards for meat production and processing. These measures sought to formalize the market and improve food safety, potentially shaping the future structure of Rwanda's poultry industry as it works towards broader agricultural goals.

Production poultry meat and offal in Rwanda

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

Rwanda's poultry meat and offal production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, production stood at 33 033 tonnes, marking a significant year-over-year decrease of 12.6%. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 9.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.2%. The highest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 39 415 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 8.2%.

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

Exports poultry meat and offal from Rwanda

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.5 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 153.3 tonnes, representing a 307-fold increase between these years. In 2020, Rwanda's foreign poultry meat and offal supplies surged by 30,564.2% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 90.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Rwanda's exports in kind were highly concentrated, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for 96.7% of 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

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over these years. Exports bottomed out in 2019 at 0.1 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 217.6 thousand US dollars, a 1,799-fold difference. In 2020, the value of exported poultry meat and offal from Rwanda increased by 179,801.0% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 89.1%.

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

During 2017-2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo effectively monopolized Rwanda's poultry meat and offal exports in value terms, capturing 99.5% 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 poultry meat and offal to Rwanda

Imports in kind, t

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 1.7 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 183.3 tonnes, a 106-fold gap. In 2020, Rwanda's poultry meat and offal import volume rose by 10,510.1% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a decrease of 87.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Rwanda in kind were the United States (43.0% of imports), Kenya (22.0%), and the United Arab Emirates (14.8%), together accounting for 79.9% of total imports.

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

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout this timeframe. Imports reached their lowest value in 2018 at 10.3 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 344.0 thousand US dollars, a 33-fold difference. In 2020, Rwanda's imports of poultry meat and offal increased by 2,929.6% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 86.3%.

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

In 2017-2020, the largest suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Rwanda in value terms were Kenya (49.0% of imports), the United States (14.6%), and the United Arab Emirates (14.2%), collectively forming 77.8% of total imports.

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

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