Import and Export in Rwanda

Haraka Freight International helps companies with import and export in Rwanda from the first supplier conversation to final delivery. Through producing value and innovating end-to-end international logistics services, we focus on serving customers with global sourcing and supply-chain management demands.

Importing into a landlocked country involves more steps than most buyers expect: international freight, a coastal port, a long road corridor, one or more borders and customs at destination. Exporting has its own paperwork and deadlines. Our import export services in Rwanda bring those steps under one team, so you can focus on buying and selling.

Import services in Rwanda

• Supplier coordination. We liaise with your supplier on packing, labelling, cargo readiness and documents.
• International freight. Sea freight via Mombasa or Dar es Salaam, air freight into Kigali, or road freight from regional suppliers.
• Pre-import checks. We check whether your goods need permits, standards certificates or approvals before they are shipped.
• Customs clearance. Classification, declaration, duty payment and release. See customs clearance in Rwanda.
• Delivery or storage. Direct delivery, or warehousing and distribution.

Export services in Rwanda

• Export documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration and the certificates your buyer needs.
• Export clearance. Declaration with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and any inspections.
• Transport. To Kigali airport, to a coastal port for sea freight, or by road to a regional buyer.
• Export management. We coordinate with your buyer's forwarder and keep the shipment on schedule.

Global sourcing and supply-chain support

Many of our clients buy from several countries and sell across the region. We help them build supply chains that work:

• Choosing the right Incoterm with suppliers (EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP or DDP), using the ICC Incoterms rules (opens in a new tab).
• Consolidating orders from different suppliers into fewer, fuller shipments.
• Combining air freight for urgent items with sea freight for the bulk.
• Holding buffer stock in Rwanda to smooth out long transit times.

IOR, EOR and DDP shipments

Foreign companies selling into Rwanda often have no local entity to act as importer. Our Importer of Record (IOR) service solves that: we act as the importer, handle compliance and deliver the goods. For exports we can act as Exporter of Record (EOR). We also handle DDP shipments, where the seller delivers with duties and taxes paid.

The import process step by step

1. Plan. Confirm the product, supplier, Incoterm, permits and budget for duties and taxes.
2. Ship. The supplier hands the goods to the carrier; we book and track the freight.
3. Arrive. The cargo reaches Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Kigali airport or a land border.
4. Transit. Port or border goods travel under customs control to Rwanda.
5. Clear. We declare the goods, pay duties and taxes if agreed, and get the release.
6. Deliver. Goods go to your premises, a project site or our warehouse.

Documents for importing and exporting

Regulated products such as food, medicines and some manufactured goods may need approval from bodies like the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (opens in a new tab) or the Rwanda Standards Board (opens in a new tab). Requirements change, so we confirm them for each shipment.

Common import and export problems, and how we avoid them

• Wrong or missing documents. We check them before shipment, not after arrival.
• Unexpected duties. We help classify goods and estimate duties and taxes in advance.
• Port charges building up. We prepare declarations early so containers leave the port quickly.
• Damage in transit. We advise on packing and offer cargo insurance.
• Border delays. We plan the route around the current border situation.

Working with import and export companies in Rwanda

Whether you are an established distributor or one of the many new import and export companies in Rwanda, our dedicated team works hard to supply customers with a wide range of cargo requirements with custom-tailored logistics solutions. Tell us what you are buying or selling, and we will design the logistics around it.

For regional trade beyond Rwanda, see our freight routes and cross-border logistics services.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to start importing into Rwanda?

A registered business with tax registration, a supplier, and the documents for each shipment, usually a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document. Some goods also need permits or certificates before import. We check the requirements for your products before you order.

Can you handle the whole import process for me?

Yes. We can coordinate with your supplier, book international freight, manage the corridor transport, clear customs and deliver to your premises, or store the goods in a warehouse until you need them.

What is a DDP shipment?

Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the seller delivers the goods to the buyer's location with import duties and taxes paid. We handle DDP shipments for suppliers selling into Rwanda and the region.

Do you help exporters in Rwanda?

Yes. Our export services cover documentation, export clearance, transport to the airport, port or border, and coordination with the buyer's forwarder.

How are import duties calculated in Rwanda?

Duties and taxes depend on the tariff classification of the goods, their customs value and their origin. Rates are set by law and published by the Rwanda Revenue Authority. We help you classify goods correctly and estimate charges before you ship.