Rwanda’s imports from Tanzania have dropped sharply by over 40 percent compared to last year, according to the latest official trade figures, highlighting a strategic pivot away from its southern neighbor toward Kenyan trade routes and direct imports from Asia.
The recently released Formal External Trade Report for September 2025 by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) indicates that the value of goods imported from Tanzania fell to US$52.91 million, down significantly from US$92.64 million in September 2024. This represents a steep 42.9% decline, accelerating a trend first noted over a year ago.
This decline underscores a major realignment in Rwanda’s trade policy. As reported by KT Press in December 2024, Rwanda had already begun shifting its focus, with Kenya overtaking Tanzania as the country’s second-largest source of imports. The latest data confirms that this preference has now solidified.
Tanzania has consequently dropped to third place among Rwanda’s import sources, behind both China and India. Its share of Rwanda’s total import market has fallen from 16.0% a year ago to just 10.8%.
The shift signals a reduced flow of key commodities that have traditionally moved north through the Central Corridor. While a detailed country-level breakdown is not provided, Tanzania has historically supplied essential goods such as petroleum products, cereals like rice and maize, and raw construction materials including cement, sand, and gravel.
Initially driven by strengthened Rwanda-Kenya ties and efforts to reduce trade barriers, this realignment appears to be lasting. While the Northern Corridor via Kenya has gained prominence, Rwanda is also increasingly sourcing goods directly from international markets.
As imports from Tanzania fell, purchases from India surged by 73.2% to US$56.49 million, and imports from China grew by 15.8% to US$113.65 million.
