Phones and network equipment imports in Rwanda: data, top suppliers and prices
Rwanda imported $123.3 million of phones and network equipment in 2024 (946 tonnes). That is 5% more than in 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 | $123.3M | 946 t |
| 2023 | $117.5M | 731 t |
| 2022 | $96.1M | 607 t |
| 2021 | $137.2M | 896 t |
| 2020 | $125.2M | 785 t |
| 2019 | $95.5M | 410 t |
| 2018 | $129.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2017 | $59.3M | 313 t |
Where Rwanda imports phones and network equipment from
Most of the value came from Hong Kong (42%), China (42%), United States (9%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | $52.2M | 42% |
| China | $51.3M | 42% |
| United States | $10.6M | 8.6% |
| Israel | $1.3M | 1.1% |
| South Africa | $1.3M | 1.1% |
| Germany | $983K | 0.8% |
| United Kingdom | $884K | 0.7% |
| Turkey | $830K | 0.7% |
| Sweden | $698K | 0.6% |
| Netherlands | $527K | 0.4% |
Product types under HS 8517
| 8517.12 | Mobile phones | 67% |
| 8517.62 | Transmission and switching apparatus | 21% |
| 8517.61 | Base stations | 6.5% |
| 8517.70 | Telephone and communication parts | 4.4% |
| 8517.69 | Communication apparatus (other) | 1.1% |
| 8517.18 | Telephone sets (other) | 0.2% |
| 8517.11 | Cordless telephones | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8517.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $130.33 per kg, 45% below the world average of $239.13, 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.
Phones and network equipment exports from Rwanda
In 2024, Rwanda exported phones and network equipment worth $729 thousand (30 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Tanzania accounted for 64% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $466K | 64% |
| United States | $74K | 10% |
| Hong Kong | $69K | 9.4% |
| Mozambique | $45K | 6.2% |
| Hungary | $24K | 3.3% |
| Dominican Republic | $9K | 1.2% |
| Uganda | $9K | 1.2% |
| South Africa | $5K | 0.7% |
| Singapore | $5K | 0.7% |
| India | $5K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in Rwanda?
The shipment records behind Rwanda phones and network equipment imports (HS 8517): 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: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528.
Common questions
What is the value of phones and network equipment imported by Rwanda?
Rwanda imported phones and network equipment worth $123.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 946 tonnes. That ranks it 115th of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply phones and network equipment to Rwanda?
Hong Kong was the largest supplier with 42% of the value ($52.2 million), followed by China (42%) and the United States (9%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 39 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 204% on the year.
What is the average import price of phones and network equipment per kg?
The average declared import value was about $130.33 per kg in 2024, 45% below the world average of $239.13 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of phones and network equipment to Rwanda changed since 2017?
Imports went from $59.3 million in 2017 to $123.3 million in 2024, an increase of 108%. The peak was 2021 at $137.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $110.4 million a year.
Does Rwanda also export phones and network equipment?
Yes. Rwanda exported $729 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Tanzania, the United States and Hong Kong. On balance Rwanda is a net importer of this product, by about $122.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for phones and network equipment?
The HS code for phones and network equipment is heading 8517. In Rwanda the largest six-digit codes were 8517.12 (67% of the value) and 8517.62 (21%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Rwanda, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World phones and network equipment trade: top importers and exporters
Phones and network equipment product types in Rwanda
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