## Unlocking Rwanda’s Export Potential: Removing Structural Bottlenecks

_Selected Issues Papers, June 11, 2026_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Unlocking Rwanda’s Export Potential: Removing Structural Bottlenecks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2026/06/11/unlocking-rwandas-export-potential-removing-structural-bottlenecks-576837)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Habtamu Fuje, Irena Jankulov Suljagic, Priscille Mikebanyi, Xingyu Pu, Gabor Pula
- Published: June 11, 2026
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229048033.018

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### Summary
- Rwanda’s export base remains narrow and concentrated, limiting diversification and contributing to persistent external imbalances.
- Despite strong growth and substantial public investment, competitiveness challenges have constrained export performance.
- Key competitiveness challenges identified: high logistics costs, limited value addition, and weak integration into global value chains.
- The paper assesses structural and macroeconomic factors holding back export expansion and identifies policy priorities to unlock Rwanda’s export potential.
- Reforms to improve trade facilitation, strengthen the investment climate, enhance productivity, and promote private-sector-led value addition would support diversification, improve external sustainability, and strengthen resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

### Constraints to Export Performance
- High logistics costs
- Limited value addition
- Weak integration into global value chains
- Narrow and concentrated export base
- Persistent external imbalances despite strong growth and substantial public investment

### Policy Priorities and Recommendations
- Improve trade facilitation
- Strengthen the investment climate
- Enhance productivity
- Promote private-sector-led value addition

### Subjects and Keywords Highlighted
- Subjects: Competition, Export competitiveness, Export diversification, Export performance, Exports, Financial markets, International trade
- Keywords: Africa, Competition, Competitiveness, competitiveness challenge, Export competitiveness, Export diversification, export expansion, Export performance, Exports, exports products, Global, IMF country, Investment climate, Price competitiveness, Productivity, Structural transformation, Sub-Saharan Africa, trade deficit, Trade integration, Value addition

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2026/06/11/unlocking-rwandas-export-potential-removing-structural-bottlenecks-576837_