The VALUE of Rwanda's exports has increased by 37.2 percent in the first six months of 2022, driven more by domestic production activities and the opening of borders in line with economic recovery.

Total exports rose to 708.3 million dollars from 516.2 million dollars the previous year.

In the first half of 2021, exports grew by 46.4 percent.

This was announced on September 22, during the presentation of the Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Statement by the Central Bank that evaluated the economic efficiency of the first half of the year and the expectations for the whole year.

The Governor of the Central Bank, John Rwangombwa, said that the growth is due to the increase in industrial products sold outside the region through the World Food Program to South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.

Natural exports such as minerals, coffee and tea increased by 39.4 percent while non-natural exports (industrial products and horticulture) increased by 25.2 percent and re-exports by 40.7 percent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was Rwanda's biggest export destination on the continent.

On the other hand, the import of goods in the country also grew by 22.5 percent equal to 1,817 million dollars in the same period associated with the revival of the local economy.

"As the economy becomes more open, the demand for imported goods increased, especially intermediate goods for industries, and the rise in the prices of goods where our oil import bill increased by more than 90 percent in the first half of this year, " said Rwangomba.

The import of intermediate products including industrial products, construction materials and fertilizers increased by 28.9 percent equal to 510.2 million dollars in the first half of 2022.