![Abakundakawa coffee grower's cooperative, Minazi coffee washing station, Gakenke district, Rwanda. [photo by: Godong/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/49a74840d9e7414a2aeea46e1d5ce686.jpg)
Rwandan coffee has once again captured the attention of the global specialty market after one kilogram sold for a record $88.18 during the Best of Rwanda 2025 auction, nearly 14 times the local market price.
- Rwandan coffee fetched a record $88.18 per kilogram at the Best of Rwanda 2025 auction, about 14 times the market price.
- The winning lot from K-Organics Ltd surpassed last year’s record, helping generate over $302,000 in total auction revenue.
- Buyers from Asia, Europe, and North America participated, underscoring Rwanda’s rising reputation in the global specialty coffee market.
- NAEB’s CEO Claude Bizimana says the record reflects collaboration, innovation, and Rwanda’s growing global coffee brand.
The event, organised by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), featured 20 of Rwanda’s finest coffee lots selected from more than 300 entries across the country.
Held on October 8, 2025, the online auction drew international buyers from the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Germany, and Hong Kong, signaling the growing prestige of Rwandan coffee on the world stage.
The top-selling lot came from K-Organics Ltd, based in Huye District in Rwanda’s Southern Province. The company’s beans shattered last year’s record of $71.80 per kilogram, previously held by NOVA Coffee Ltd from Gicumbi.
In total, the auction generated more than $302,000 from the sale of 16 metric tons of premium green coffee, marking a decisive vote of confidence in Rwanda’s coffee value chain.
“We are thrilled by this result. “This record price will help us invest more in sustainable coffee farming and improve the livelihoods of farmers who work with us,” said Evariste Karangwa, representative of K-Organics Ltd.
Karangwa added that the achievement highlights Rwanda’s growing capacity to compete among the world’s top specialty coffee producers, a sentiment echoed by NAEB’s leadership.
Teamwork brews success for Rwanda’s coffee industry
![Abakundakawa coffee grower's cooperative, Minazi coffee washing station, Gakenke district, Rwanda. [photo by: Godong/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/3278118c6d960916c1eebc9cab7adb25.jpg)
“What we are witnessing today is the fruit of collaboration among farmers, processors, and exporters.
“Each bid placed in this auction is a celebration of Rwanda’s coffee excellence and a commitment to continued innovation and investment in the sector,” said Claude Bizimana, CEO of NAEB.
The Best of Rwanda competition, now in its second year, aims to reward producers who consistently deliver exceptional coffee quality. All 20 winning lots scored above 87.49% in sensory evaluations conducted by national and international experts, a hallmark of specialty-grade coffee.
Rwanda has been investing heavily in upgrading its coffee industry, from farmer training to post-harvest processing and global marketing. NAEB’s ongoing efforts have helped position the country among Africa’s leading exporters of high-value Arabica beans, alongside Ethiopia and Kenya.
“Our goal is not only to sell coffee but to tell Rwanda’s story through every cup,” Bizimana said.
With this year’s record-breaking auction, Rwanda’s coffee sector continues to demonstrate that quality, collaboration, and innovation can transform African agriculture into a globally admired brand.
