According to the New Times on July 24th, oil ranks high on Rwanda's import list, accounting for 28.4% of the country's total commodity imports, with imports exceeding 6.88 billion US dollars in 2024. According to the 2024 Trade and Industrial Performance Report, Rwanda imported 816000 tons of oil worth $680 million (over 980 billion Rwandan francs), accounting for nearly 10% of the country's total imports and a 9.5% increase from $621 million in 2023. Trade and Industry Minister Prudence Sebaschi revealed to The New Times that petroleum products are crucial for providing power for transportation, aviation, and certain industrial activities. Due to the fact that Rwanda does not produce petroleum products domestically, all of its fuel needs need to be met through imports. He said, "With the development of the economy, the demand for transportation and energy continues to increase, and the demand for petroleum products has also risen, making petroleum products one of our largest imported categories.
