Afghanistan's trade with five Central Asian nations—Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan—has reached $1.696 billion since March 2024, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The ministry's spokesperson, Akhunzada Abdul Salam Jawad, stated that trade with these five Central Asian countries totaled $1.696 billion, with exports amounting to $112 million and imports making up $1.584 billion.
In a recent report released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Afghanistan's total trade in 2024 increased by 29% compared to 2023. The total trade for 2024 was valued at $12.422 billion, up from $9.594 billion in 2023.
In 2024, the total exports from Afghanistan amounted to $1.803 billion, while total imports made up $10.619 billion. In contrast, 2023 saw exports of $1.884 billion and imports of $7.710 billion. This represents a 38% increase in imports and a 4% decrease in exports for the year 2024.
In 2024, Afghanistan's largest export destination was Pakistan, with total exports valued at $817 million, reflecting an 18.7% decrease compared to 2023. On the other hand, imports from Iran, Afghanistan's leading import partner, saw a significant increase of 83.38% in 2024, reaching a total value of $3.143 billion.
Among the five Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan leads in trade with Afghanistan. In 2024, the total trade value between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan reached $670 million. Of this, $645 million worth of goods were imported to Afghanistan, marking a 35% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, exports to Turkmenistan amounted to $2.5 million, reflecting a 6% decrease compared to 2023.
Uzbekistan ranks second in trade volume among Central Asian countries, with a significant increase in trade activity in 2024. Exports to Uzbekistan surged by 104%, totaling $56 million, while imports from Uzbekistan rose by 145%, reaching $587 million.
Trade with Kazakhstan also grew in 2024, with total trade reaching $401 million. Exports to Kazakhstan amounted to $43 million, a 34% increase from 2023, while imports from Kazakhstan totaled $358 million, reflecting a 55% rise compared to the previous year.
Tajikistan's total trade with Afghanistan in 2024 stood at $61 million, with $49 million worth of imports to Afghanistan and $12 million worth of exports from Afghanistan.
Imports from Kyrgyzstan saw a significant increase, rising to $39 million in 2024 from just $1 million in 2023. However, exports to Kyrgyzstan decreased by 5%, falling to $7.6 million in 2024.
Afghanistan exported a variety of goods to these neighboring countries, including agricultural products like asafoetida (hing), potatoes, and onions, as well as fresh and dried fruits, juices, and talc stone. On the other hand, the country imported critical commodities such as fuel, electricity, wheat flour, cooking oil, cement, chemical fertilizers, and raw materials for industrial production.
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