Importing and Exporting from Rwanda
Trade corridors, customs procedures and what landlocked logistics really cost.
01 — Corridors
Corridors
Rwanda is landlocked and served by the Northern Corridor through Mombasa and the Central Corridor through Dar es Salaam. Corridor choice drives lead time and cost more than any other logistics decision, and both are subject to seasonal congestion.
02 — Customs and standards
Customs and standards
Customs clearance runs on the regional electronic single window. East African Community common external tariff rules apply to imports from outside the bloc, while goods meeting rules of origin move duty-free within it. Exports of food, coffee, tea and horticulture need standards certification from the national standards board.
03 — Air freight
Air freight
High-value perishables — horticulture, fresh produce and speciality coffee samples — commonly move by air through Kigali, with cargo handling capacity expanding alongside the new airport programme.
Sources
- Rwanda Revenue Authority Customs — Clearance procedures and tariffs
- Rwanda Standards Board — Certification for exports
Rules, fees and prices change. Confirm details with the responsible institution before acting.