Wood fuel market in Rwanda

Earlier Report Observations

The Rwandan wood fuel market volume remained stable at around 5 000 thousand m³ annually from 2018 through 2023. This stability coincided with the government's 2018 Biomass Energy Strategy, which aimed to reduce reliance on wood and charcoal by promoting alternatives like LPG and biogas. Strict regulation of tree cutting through mandatory permits for operators also constrained supply, helping to maintain a steady market size.

Continued policy efforts focused on electrification and improved cooking technologies. Significant investments were made to increase electricity access, including hydroelectric and Lake Kivu methane power plant projects. In 2021, a Rwf 82.1 billion financing agreement with the African Development Bank supported universal electricity access, while the 2022 updated electrification plan targeted raising on-grid connections to 70% by 2024. These measures provided alternatives to wood fuel, containing demand growth.

A marginal market volume decrease to 4 999 thousand m³ occurred in 2023, partly due to the initiation of exports. During this period, the government planned the planting of 63 million trees to support carbon markets and sustainable forestry, which could influence long-term wood fuel supply. The ongoing promotion of pellets and briquettes as alternatives further shaped consumption patterns.

Production wood fuel in Rwanda

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

In 2020, Rwanda produced 5,000 cubic meters of wood fuel, showing no significant change from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Exports wood fuel from Rwanda

Exports in kind, m³

Wood fuel exports from Rwanda increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 2.0 cubic meters, up by 983.3% year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2020, exports grew by 2,500%, representing an annualized rate of 196.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, Rwanda's wood fuel exports were heavily dependent on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which accounted for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

Foreign wood fuel supplies from Rwanda rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports were recorded at 3.5 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic increase of 8,644.0% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2020, exports surged by 13,236.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 410.9%.

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

During 2017–2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remained the overwhelmingly dominant buyer of wood fuel from Rwanda, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports wood fuel to Rwanda

Imports in kind, m³

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2018 at 740.5 cubic meters and reached their lowest point in 2020 at 5.1 cubic meters, with a 144-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Rwanda's wood fuel imports amounted to 5.1 cubic meters, marking a decline of 91.1% from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 92.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 112.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Rwanda in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Throughout 2017–2020, Uganda and Indonesia were the core markets for Rwanda's wood fuel imports in volume, jointly accounting for 85.0% of total flows, while other destinations had comparatively modest 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

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports reached a high in 2018 at 119.5 thousand US dollars and a low in 2019 at 5.7 thousand US dollars, varying by a factor of 21. In 2020, Rwanda's wood fuel import volume stood at 8.6 thousand US dollars, equivalent to a gain of 50.7% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 95.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 546.3%.

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

In 2017–2020, Indonesia (38.2% of imports in value terms), Uganda (30.8% of imports in value terms), and India (23.7% of imports in value terms) were the principal destinations for Rwanda's wood fuel imports in value, jointly accounting for 92.7% 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