Rwanda has signed a cooperation agreement with Singapore aimed at expanding the market for its coffee in the Southeast Asian country and other regional markets, as part of efforts to increase the value of its coffee exports and create new opportunities for farmers.
The agreement was signed on November 6, 2026, between the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and the Singapore Coffee Association, which brings together coffee traders, processors and other industry players in Singapore.
It was signed by NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana and Singapore Coffee Association President Victor Mah during the ASEAN International Coffee Conference, held in Singapore from November 4 to 6, 2026.
The partnership will focus on facilitating access for Rwandan coffee to new markets, strengthening cooperation among coffee industry players and improving the competitiveness of Rwanda’s coffee on the international market.
Bizimana said Rwanda intends to shift its coffee export strategy towards adding more value to the product rather than focusing solely on export volumes.
“Rwanda’s goal is not simply to export more coffee, but to increase its value,” he said.
He explained that achieving this ambition would require improving coffee quality, strengthening traceability systems, building the capacity of industry players and establishing sustainable partnerships with stakeholders in Asia.
The initiative comes as coffee remains one of Rwanda’s leading foreign exchange earners. NAEB data show that approximately 400,000 smallholder farming households are involved in the sector.
In 2025, Rwanda exported 23,860 tonnes of green coffee, generating $148.6 million, up from $89.8 million in 2024. This represented a 65 per cent increase and marked the highest annual export earnings in the history of Rwanda’s coffee trade.
The growth was driven by increased export volumes, higher international coffee prices and investments in boosting production and expanding markets.
Farmers also benefited from the improved performance, with the average farm-gate price of a kilogramme of fresh coffee cherries reaching Rwf900 in 2025, compared with the minimum guaranteed price of Rwf600.
Recently, Rwandan coffee made headlines on the international market after one kilogramme of specialty coffee sold for $450, equivalent to approximately Rwf670,000, at an international auction.
Rwanda aims to increase its annual coffee exports to 32,000 tonnes by 2029, generating more than $192 million in revenue.
The agreement with Singapore is part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to expand international markets for its coffee, increase export earnings and improve the livelihoods of coffee farmers.
