Rwanda
As a least-developed country (LDC), Rwanda is a beneficiary of the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) arrangement. The World Bank classifies Rwanda as a low-income economy with a per-capita income of $1,000 in 2024. Total EU imports from Rwanda amounted to about €140 million in 2024 (after €88 million in 2023), and preferential imports to €13 million.
What is the EBA?
The EBA arrangement covers all LDCs as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products originating in LDCs except for arms and ammunition. Unlike beneficiaries of the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDCs are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements or agreements with the EU.
At a glance: EU preferential imports from EBA beneficiary countries (2024, € million)
14.3M (2024)
Population
Presidential Republic
Government
8.9% (2024)
GDP Growth
1.8% (2024)
Inflation
$ 14.3B (2024)
GDP
Facts about Rwanda's economy
Macroeconomic Stability
Rwanda can look back on two decades of dynamic economic expansion with an average annual growth rate of over 7% (and more than 8% since 2021; 8.9% in 2024). Other macroeconomic parameters additionally indicate a stable macroeconomic environment, including low inflation, low corruption, and comparatively low levels of debt.
Export Products
Important export products of Rwanda are ores (tin, niobium, tantalum, etc.), coffee and tea.
Trade Partners
Rwanda's most important trading partners in 2024 were Congo (Democratic Rep), China, the EU and the UAE. Most imports originate from China (17%) and the EU (11%), and most exports go to the DRC (49%) and the EU (8%).
Economic Structure
The agricultural sector dominates Rwanda’s economy with coffee, tea and tobacco being the most important cash crops accounting for more than half of the total exports. The manufacturing sector depends largely on agricultural inputs. Apart from the processing of commodities, most industrial activity is small scale and includes mining, textiles, construction materials, pharmaceuticals etc.
Usage of EBA Preferences
In 2024, 9% of EU total imports from Rwanda made use of the preferential access granted by the EBA (most imports fromthe country are duty-free in the EU under normal tariffs). The preference utilisation rate, which represents the ratio of preferential imports to GSP eligible imports, dropped from almost 94% in 2023 to 22% in 2024.
Trade with the EU
Total trade with the EU amounted to €628 million in 2024. The EU is Rwanda's third most important trading partner, accounting for a share of 11%.
Rwanda and the EU
Imports from Rwanda by product section (2024, € million)
Imports from Rwanda over time (€ million)
RWANDA AND THE EU GSP
Economic Impact
43%
Share of Rwanda's exports to the EU that were eligible for EBA preferences in 2024.
22%
Rwanda's preference utilisation rate in 2024.
56%
Share of zero-duty imports from Rwanda in 2024. Most imports are duty-free under normal EU tariffs.
Preference utilisation and export diversification
EU imports from Rwanda (€ million)
Preference utilisation (%) vs. total eligible imports (in € million)
Although a fairly large share of EU imports from Rwanda is duty free under normal tariffs (notably, coffee and ores), EBA eligible imports have strongly and steadily increased. Likewise, Rwanda’s preference utilisation rate has improved considerably over the years, from zero in 2013 to above 90% ever since 2018, showing that the country takes good advantage of the preferences granted under the EBA. The drop of the utilisation rate in 2024 is due to a large export of transport equipment to the EU (worth more than €43 million) not using preferences. All of the other major EBA-eligible product groups, apparel, fruit and vegetables, plants (cut flowers), and furniture, have utilisation rates of 95% and above.
The largest product sections under EBA (€ million, 2024)
While overall EU imports from Rwanda are led by coffee and tea, preferential imports under the EBA are less focused on individual product groups. Apparel, agricultural products (fruit and vegetables as well as plants) and light manufactures were the largest groups in 2024, and all except apparel (67%) had preference utilisation rates close to 100%.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As a beneficiary of the EBA, Rwanda is not required to ratify any conventions to be able to benefit from preferential access to the EU market. Nonetheless, the country has ratified all 27 international conventions listed in the GSP Regulation on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance.
Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards
Ratified
- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
- International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
- Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
- Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
- Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
- Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
- Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
- Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
- Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
- Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
- Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)
Additional Conventions
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
- Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
- United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
- United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
- United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
- United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)
EU-Rwanda Bilateral Development Cooperation
DG INTPA
Access all info about EU-Rwanda relations on the International Partnerships website.