IMPORT GUIDE · CHECKED 6 OCTOBER 2026
Importing construction machinery into Rwanda
Excavators, loaders, bulldozers and graders (HS 8429) enter Rwanda at 0% import duty under the EAC common external tariff. VAT and levies add 24.7% of the customs value. On a machine with a $100,000 customs value, that is $24,700 in taxes at entry.
Import taxes on machinery in Rwanda
| Tax | Rate | Charged on | On $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 0% | Customs value (CIF) | $0 |
| VAT | 18% | Customs value + duty | $18,000 |
| Withholding tax | 5% | Customs value (CIF) | $5,000 |
| Infrastructure development levy | 1.5% | Customs value (CIF) | $1,500 |
| African Union levy | 0.2% | Customs value (CIF) | $200 |
| Total taxes at entry | $24,700 | ||
Worked example on a $100,000 customs value (cost, insurance and freight). Every lane page has a calculator for your own figures.
Before the machine ships
- Pre-shipment inspection
- No inspection rule on file for Rwanda yet; your forwarder confirms what applies.
- Customs system
- Rwanda Electronic Single Window
- Documents you will need
- Commercial invoice, packing list (listing attachments shipped loose) and the bill of lading.
Guides by where you buy
Sea routes into Rwanda
Cargo for Rwanda lands at TZDAR and moves inland by road or rail; days below are the sea leg.
| From | To | Sea days |
|---|---|---|
| Busan, South Korea | Kigali via TZDAR | 28 |
| Houston, United States | Kigali via TZDAR | 67 |
| Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates | Kigali via TZDAR | 10–15 |
| Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru), India | Kigali via TZDAR | 14–17 |
| Qingdao, China | Kigali via TZDAR | 33–38 |
| Shanghai, China | Kigali via TZDAR | 23–31 |
| Yokohama, Japan | Kigali via TZDAR | 37 |