Rwanda Trade Data

Q1: What is Rwanda customs data?

Rwanda customs data covers the import trade records published by Rwanda Customs. Each record is one complete customs declaration line and contains the parties, the product, the shipment route and the declared values.

Sample record: SIGNS (HS 94056000000, 202608) shipped from China (CN) to Rwanda (RW), 50 Kg net weight, USD 176.23 declared value.

Q2: What are the unique advantages of Rwanda data?

Core features of this data set:
   1. local-currency price fields (RWF): amount, weight-unit price and quantity-unit price (e.g. 259,770)
   2. duty and valuation fields: FOB USD 168.06 / RWF 247,725 (unit 3.36113 / 4,954.5); freight RWF 10,814; insurance RWF 1

Q3: How frequently is the data updated?

The data is refreshed monthly and supports historical backtracking. The sample record is for month 202608 with a clearance date of 2026/8/31.

Q4: How are the product description fields structured?

Product text is recorded in English and is split into two levels:
   - Code product description (the wording attached to the HS code): ILLUMINATED SIGNS, ILLUMINATED NAME-PLATES AND THE LIKE
   - Detailed product name (the specific item): SIGNS
   - Use: filter by HS code first, then keyword-search the detailed product name to find the exact SKU family

Q5: Which currencies and value fields does Rwanda data provide?

Multiple value systems are provided:
   USD: amount 176.23, weight-unit price 3.52456, quantity-unit price 3.52456
   CNY: total amount 1,187, weight-unit price 23.74205
   Rwandan franc (RWF): amount 259,770, weight-unit price 5,195.4, quantity-unit price 5,195.4

Q6: What is HS code 94056000000 in this data set?

HS code 94056000000 corresponds to ILLUMINATED SIGNS, ILLUMINATED NAME-PLATES AND THE LIKE:
   - Code product description: ILLUMINATED SIGNS, ILLUMINATED NAME-PLATES AND THE LIKE
   - Detailed product name: SIGNS
   - Sub-industry: Furniture
   - Industry: Others

   In this sample the goods were declared by Importer: GRACE BATAMURIZA.

Q7: What do the weight and quantity fields mean?

Weight and quantity fields are recorded separately, and unit prices are derived from each basis:
   - Gross weight: 50 Kg
   - Net weight: 50 Kg (= 0.05 metric ton)
   - Quantity: 50 KGM
   - Take care: compare unit prices only on the same basis - weight-unit prices and quantity-unit prices are not interchangeable

Q8: How do I use Rwanda data to develop buyers?

Steps:
   1. Filter records where the importer is in Rwanda (RW) and the HS code matches your product line
   2. De-duplicate buyers by importer company code
   3. Grade each buyer by purchase frequency and value (month, USD amount)
   4. Look at which exporter they currently buy from, then pitch the same category

   Sample application: GRACE BATAMURIZA (103164831) imported SIGNS from China (CN), so similar products can be pitched to the same buyer profile.

Q9: How do I build a pricing or cost model with this data?

Steps:
   1. Extract the value fields: USD amount 176.23 and USD weight-unit price 3.52456; local-currency amount 259,770 RWF; CNY amount 1,187
   2. Note the Incoterms (sample: not stated) to know which cost elements are inside the declared value
   3. Add duty and tax from the tax fields (FOB USD 168.06 / RWF 247,725 (unit 3.36113 / 4,954.5); freight RWF 10,814; insurance RWF 1,231; CIF USD 176.23 / RWF 259,770; impo) to move from customs value to landed cost
   4. Recalculate margin in the currency you actually settle in

   Sample application: "SIGNS" declared under HS 94056000000, 50 Kg, origin China (CN).

Q10: How do I screen clearance channels and logistics routes?

Steps:
   1. Read the transport mode and entry point of each record (sample: -)
   2. Group by origin country to see which corridor your competitors use
   3. Compare declared unit prices between corridors

   Sample application: goods entered from China (CN).

Q11: How do I analyse import trends with Rwanda data?

Analysis dimensions:
   1. Time: aggregate month, USD amount, net weight and record count using the month and clearance date fields
   2. Origin: compare country of origin and exporter country shares
   3. Product: rank HS codes, sub-industry and industry by value
   4. Supplier: profile the main exporters and their declared unit prices

   Sample application: the sample is a 202608 record (import), HS 94056000000, which can be used as one data point in a monthly trend line.

Q12: How do I screen price anomalies and audit declared value?

Screening method:
   1. Compare the line-level unit price (USD weight-unit price 3.52456) with the same-indicator distribution on the same HS code
   2. Check weight consistency (net weight 50 Kg against the declaration-level weight where available)
   3. Flag records whose values are reported as 0 or whose duty is fully exempted, and exclude them from price averages
   4. Manually review outliers that deviate far from the category median

   Sample: FOB USD 168.06 / RWF 247,725 (unit 3.36113 / 4,954.5); freight RWF 10,814; insurance RWF 1,231; CIF USD 176.23 / RWF 259.