KIGALI – Rwanda’s sugar imports fell by more than 36% in 2025, according to data released on Monday, as the country moves closer to self-sufficiency in a key commodity.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry reported that Rwanda imported 195,610 tonnes of sugar last year, down from 308,000 tonnes in 2024.
The value of these imports dropped from $238 million to $145 million, providing a significant boost to the country’s balance of payments.
Minister Prudence Sebahizi attributed the decline to “improved local production and a fall in re-exports to neighboring countries.”
Rwanda has been incentivizing private investment in sugar cane plantations and refining facilities to insulate the domestic market from global price volatility.
The drop in imports also reflects a maturing domestic processing industry, which is now handling more raw sugar internally rather than relying on finished household sugar from abroad.
The news is a victory for Kigali’s broader “Made in Rwanda” policy, though officials noted that demand for industrial-grade sugar for beverages remains high, suggesting that further investment in high-spec refining is needed.
