The Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, has assured the public that essential goods will remain available on the Rwandan market, including petroleum products, despite ongoing global price increases.
His remarks come amid concerns from traders over rising import costs and longer delivery times for goods sourced from abroad, particularly from the Middle East, which have pushed up logistics and freight expenses.
Transport operators engaged in import and export services have also reported increased shipping and insurance costs, driven by continued tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Minister Sebahizi said Rwanda has diversified supply routes to ensure uninterrupted access to international markets. These include alternative corridors through Oman and overland routes to Dubai, as well as shipments via the Port of Djibouti.
He noted that trade flows to Europe remain stable and unaffected by the ongoing disruptions.
While acknowledging continued pressure on global prices, Sebahizi stressed that government’s immediate priority is to prevent shortages on the domestic market.
“The priority is to ensure that petroleum products remain available, and that essential imports such as medicines, fertilizers, food products, and fuel are not disrupted. We will continue managing the impact of price changes while ensuring market stability,” he said.
He also called on the public to adopt fuel-saving practices, including increased use of public transport and reduced unnecessary travel.
The statement comes as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global supply chains, including the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 20% of global oil shipments pass—contributing to a sharp rise in international fuel prices and pushing up costs locally, where petrol has increased by more than Frw 1,000 in a month.
