Coffee exports reach record $150m as specialty drive deepens

Rwanda’s coffee sector is pairing a strong export run with a maturing coffee culture, strengthening market access while keeping quality at the centre. In 2025, coffee export revenues reached a record nearly $150 million with export volumes up 39% year-on-year and revenues rising 65%, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).

That growth is linked to higher shipment volumes, rising international prices and sustained investment in production and market expansion. Alongside the export push, Rwanda’s move toward specialty coffee has helped reposition the country beyond “commodity” labels, supported by careful farming practices and a growing appreciation for craft.

The income effect matters too: USAID has reported that over 50,000 rural households have more than doubled their coffee income through this specialty shift.

With demand and differentiation moving in the same direction, Rwanda’s coffee story looks set to keep expanding both in global markets and at home.

Source: NAEB