This growth builds on an annual average increase of 9.4%, reflecting the country’s continued efforts to strengthen and diversify its industrial base.

Among the sectors driving this expansion, electricity production stood out with a remarkable 23.2% year-on-year increase.

This substantial growth highlights the ongoing improvements in energy infrastructure and a rising demand for power, both from industrial users and households.

Electricity alone contributed 4.4 percentage points to the overall annual change—making it the most influential factor behind March’s performance.

Manufacturing, Rwanda’s largest industrial subsector by weight, recorded a 1.7% increase.

Within this category, food processing performed particularly well, growing by 7.8% compared to March last year.

The furniture and other manufacturing segment also saw a strong 19.3% rise, suggesting growing activity in small-scale production and consumer goods.

However, not all segments fared equally—textiles, clothing, and leather goods fell sharply by 11.2%, and the wood, paper, and printing industries declined by 8.2%, signaling possible structural or demand-related challenges in those areas.

Mining and quarrying, another key industrial activity, experienced a 4.1% increase compared to March 2024, while water and waste management rose modestly by 1.4%.

These sectors contributed marginally to the overall index but remained part of the broader industrial expansion.

On a month-to-month basis, March 2025 also showed signs of healthy momentum, with output rising by 3.9% compared to February.

Mining activity was especially dynamic during this period, jumping by 17.2%, while the manufacturing of beverages and tobacco products increased by 11.4%.

This upward trend illustrates Rwanda’s broader push toward industrialization, supported by strategic investments, policy reforms, and a commitment to reducing reliance on imports.

This photo shows the bird's eye view of Kigali Special Economic Zone. Rwanda’s industrial output increased by 5% in March 2025.