Fisher World Ltd, an agriculture export firm based mostly in Rwamagana District within the Jap Province, recorded a pointy enhance in chili export volumes within the first quarter of 2026, with shipments doubling from about three containers throughout the identical interval final yr to 6 containers this yr.
Based on the corporate’s Common Supervisor Herman Uwizeyimana, the rise was partly pushed by carryover inventory from earlier harvest seasons, which was exported through the first quarter of 2026.
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“Season A harvest begins in January, however among the exports got here from produce that had remained in inventory and was offered later,” he defined.
He attributed the expansion to elevated irrigation, higher pest administration and stronger adoption of economic farming practices, noting that farmers had utilized classes from pest challenges skilled in earlier seasons.
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Uwizeyimana stated the Center East battle had not considerably disrupted his firm’s exports, noting that dried chilli is principally offered to China and India and may nonetheless be shipped by means of air transport.
He contrasted this with exporters of recent vegetables and fruit, who’re extra uncovered to disruption resulting from reliance on Dubai as a key market and the necessity for quicker logistics.
“Even with the Center East battle, we continued exporting as a result of our markets are primarily in Asia,” he stated.
His expertise displays a broader nationwide development.
Rwanda’s export crop manufacturing elevated by 39 per cent within the first quarter of 2026, serving to agriculture increase by 8 per cent and contribute 1.6 share factors to the nation’s general financial progress.
That is in line with the newest report by the Nationwide Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
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Inside agriculture, meals crops manufacturing elevated by 3 per cent, whereas export crops recorded the strongest progress.
Espresso earnings rise
Espresso producers say the rise was largely pushed by stronger efficiency from the earlier harvest cycle.
Rwanda’s espresso sector rebounded strongly in 2025, recording its highest output in six years, with exports reaching 23,860 tonnes of inexperienced espresso and producing greater than $148.6 million in income, in line with the Nationwide Agricultural Export Growth Board (NAEB).
Jeremie Iyakaremye, a espresso exporter based mostly in Nyamasheke and Kirehe districts, stated elevated espresso exports within the first quarter had been pushed primarily by sturdy efficiency from the earlier harvest season.
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Nevertheless, he famous that rising operational prices, significantly transport, had been felt throughout the worth chain amid disruptions linked to the Center East battle.
“Exports elevated based mostly on final yr’s manufacturing, despite the fact that operational prices reminiscent of transport went up because of the Center East disaster,” he stated, including that the rise in espresso cherry costs was additionally linked to improved manufacturing efficiency within the earlier season.
Iyakaremye highlighted that exporters at the moment are required to make larger investments to maintain volumes.
On manufacturing, he stated fertiliser availability stays a significant concern and will have an effect on future output if not correctly managed. He known as for stronger coordination by means of espresso washing stations to make sure farm inputs are distributed effectively to farmers.
Iyakaremye stated his espresso is principally exported to markets in america, United Kingdom, Russia and Germany, noting that shipments weren’t halted however turned extra pricey through the Center East tensions.
Fulgence Sebazungu, president of the Rwanda Espresso Cooperatives Federation, stated first-quarter export efficiency was largely pushed by espresso harvested in 2025.
He famous that espresso harvesting sometimes begins in March and April, that means exports recorded early within the yr are sometimes supported by inventory carried over from earlier seasons.
“The rise primarily got here from final yr’s manufacturing as a result of some volumes had not but been exported,” he stated.
Sebazungu added that earlier fertiliser provide challenges linked to adjustments within the Tubura distribution system had been resolved, whereas the sector is now specializing in sustaining productiveness.
He additionally famous that the minimal worth for high quality espresso cherries was elevated by 25 per cent to Rwf750 per kilogramme in 2026.
Manufacturing within the tea sector decreased barely through the first quarter of 2026, whilst export efficiency remained resilient.
Tea manufacturing declined barely from 28,759,960 kilogrammes in Q1 2025 to twenty-eight,286,783 kilogrammes in Q1 2026, in line with information from the federation.
Philbert Shumbusho, President of the Federation of Tea Farmers’ Cooperatives in Rwanda (Ferwacothe), stated manufacturing was affected by extended sunshine through the quarter.
Shumbusho stated tea exports are influenced by the public sale system by means of which Rwanda sells tea, that means shipments recorded in a single quarter might mirror transactions from earlier manufacturing cycles.
“There’s one public sale by means of which tea is offered and typically there are delays, that means exports might enhance even when present quarter manufacturing has not,” he stated.
He additionally warned that doable results of Center East tensions might emerge in Q2 and Q3, significantly on costs, noting that Asian markets together with Pakistan and China account for round 70 per cent of Rwanda’s tea exports.
