Mobile phones imports in Rwanda: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of mobile phones by Rwanda reached $82.3 million in 2024 (502 tonnes). Value fell 4% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 11% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $82.3M | 502 t |
| 2023 | $85.6M | 428 t |
| 2022 | $66.9M | 372 t |
| 2021 | $74.3M | 386 t |
| 2020 | $87.4M | 451 t |
| 2019 | $71.8M | 158 t |
| 2018 | $44.1M | 543 t |
| 2017 | $39.0M | 54 t |
Where Rwanda imports mobile phones from
One supplier dominates: Hong Kong accounted for 60% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+81% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | $49.2M | 60% |
| China | $32.9M | 40% |
| France | $64K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $41K | 0.1% |
| United States | $37K | 0% |
| South Africa | $27K | 0% |
| Kenya | $22K | 0% |
| United Kingdom | $16K | 0% |
| South Korea | $14K | 0% |
| Sweden | $12K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $164.01 per kg, 49% below the world average of $321.06, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in Rwanda?
The shipment records behind Rwanda mobile phones imports (HS 8517.12): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8517.12: Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Common questions
What is the value of mobile phones imported by Rwanda?
Rwanda imported mobile phones worth $82.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 502 tonnes. That ranks it 105th of 220 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries supply mobile phones to Rwanda?
Hong Kong was the largest supplier with 60% of the value ($49.2 million), followed by China (40%) and France (0%). The top three together account for 100%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Sweden grew fastest among the top ten, up 251% on the year.
What is the average import price of mobile phones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $164.01 per kg in 2024, 49% below the world average of $321.06 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of mobile phones to Rwanda changed since 2017?
Imports went from $39.0 million in 2017 to $82.3 million in 2024, an increase of 111%. The peak was 2020 at $87.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $68.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for mobile phones?
The HS code for mobile phones is subheading 8517.12. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8517 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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