In the fourth quarter of 2020, Rwanda’s total trade was US$ 1231.61 million, an increase of 0.86 percent over the fourth quarter of 2019.
Exports were US$ 241.35 million, imports were US$ 900.35 million and re-exports were US$ 89.91 million.
In this quarter, total domestic exports decreased by 43.71 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2020 (US$ 241.35 million and US$ 428.78 million respectively).
Total imports of Rwanda increased by 0.89 percent when compared to the same quarter of 2019 (US$ 900.35 million and US$ 892.38 million respectively) and decreased by 7.97 percent over the third quarter of 2020.
Re-exports, increased by 2.95 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 over the same quarter of 2019 (US$ 89.91 million and US$ 87.33 million respectively) and by 13.29 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020.
The top five export destinations were: United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo, United Kingdom, India and United States of America.
Together, these five countries accounted a share of 76.31 percent of total value of domestic exports (US$ 184.17 million).
The commodity groups with the largest export values were; “Other commodities & transactions, n.e.s” (US$ 125.43 million), “Food and live animals” (US$ 67.45 million), and “Crude materials, inedible, except fuels” (US$ 22.57 million).
In terms of re-exports, the top five destinations were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal and United Arab Emirates.
Democratic Republic of Congo accounted for 96.81 percent of Rwanda’s total re-exports. The most re-exported commodity group were, “Food & live animals” (US$ 31.74 million) followed by “Mineral fuels, lubricants & related materials” (US$ 15.90 million).
In terms of total imports (CIF); Tanzania, China, Kenya, India, and United Arab Emirates were the top five countries of origin of imports to Rwanda and they totalized US$ 577.81 million of imports equivalent to 64.18% share of the total value of imports.
The commodity groups with the largest values among the top imported products were “Machinery and transport equipment” (US$ 188.89 million), “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material” (US$ 144.14 million) and “Other commodities & transactions, n.e.s” (US$ 126.47 million).