Afghanistan’s Trade Volume Expected to Rise in 2025 Despite Challenges
The Taliban’s Department of Industry and Commerce has announced that despite the temporary closure of certain trade routes and existing challenges, Afghanistan’s export and import activities in 2025 will not only avoid decline but are set to increase compared to the previous year.
According to the provided information, the total value of Afghanistan’s trade in 2025 is estimated to reach 13.932 billion US dollars. Of this amount, 1.807 billion dollars will be attributed to exports and 12.125 billion dollars to imports.
The department stated that the main export destinations for Afghanistan in 2025 include India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkey, China, Iraq, and Tajikistan. The exported goods primarily consist of agricultural and mineral products, which play a significant role in generating income for the country’s traders and farmers.
Key export items listed are figs, raisins, henna, henna seeds, sugar, cotton, silk, pistachios, almonds, saffron, dried apricots, cumin, apples, grapes, melons, fruits, energy drinks, mineral stones, carpets, pine nuts, and pomegranates.
On the imports side, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and India are identified as major trade partners of Afghanistan. Imported items mainly include fuel materials, machinery, foodstuffs, and essential consumer goods.
The Department of Industry and Commerce further added that vehicles and spare parts, industrial machinery, diesel and petrol, flour and wheat, electrical machinery, natural gas, cotton textiles, vegetable oil, black cement, medicinal spices, rice, sugar, dairy products, henna, cigarettes, raw fabrics, tires and tubes, and new clothing were among the essential imports of the country in 2025.
According to statistics from the same department, Afghanistan’s total trade value in 2024 was about 12.422 billion dollars, including 1.803 billion dollars in exports and 10.619 billion dollars in imports.
While the Taliban’s administration views the increase in trade volume as a sign of relative stability in economic activities, experts emphasize that the lack of transparency, banking restrictions, and unresponsive economic policies continue to hinder the sustainable benefits of these figures for the Afghan people.
