Afghanistan’s foreign trade reached $12.949 billion over the past year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, signaling a notable increase in economic activity.
The ministry highlighted that the rise reflects improved purchasing power among Afghans and stronger trade relations with regional partners.
The country exported goods worth $1.785 billion during this period, with key exports including figs, cotton, raisins, carpets, lead ingots, and precious and semi-precious stones. These products found strong demand in markets such as Pakistan, India, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Türkiye, and Tajikistan. On the other hand, Afghanistan imported $11.164 billion worth of goods, including essential items like diesel fuel, wheat flour, vehicle parts, liquefied gas, cotton textiles, spices, oil, and rice, which are vital for sustaining domestic industries and daily commerce.
While the figures indicate economic activity, Afghanistan continues to face a significant trade deficit. In 2023, imports totaled $7.710 billion, while exports reached $1.884 billion, underscoring the country’s reliance on foreign goods. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) special representative Roza Utunbayeva, recently reported a 2.7% economic growth rate for 2024, suggesting modest progress. However, experts warn that persistent challenges, including reduced foreign aid and the widening trade gap, could hinder long-term stability.
The latest trade data highlights both Afghanistan’s economic resilience and the ongoing need for policies that boost exports, attract investment, and reduce dependency on imports. As the country navigates these challenges, observers remain cautious about its economic trajectory in the coming years.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli...
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washin...
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as onli...
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new lead...
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East....
Clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan continued for an eighth consecutive day, as the United Nations says more than 160,000 people have been displaced and Afghan officials claim an airstrike on a Pakistani military command centre in Balochistan.
China has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their growing border dispute through dialogue and diplomatic channels, as clashes between their security forces entered a seventh day and left more than 160 people dead or injured, according to the United Nations.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Ankara is ready to help reinforce the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as clashes between the two neighbours continue for a sixth consecutive day.
At least 42 people have been killed and 104 wounded in fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Tuesday. The latest death toll figures come as fighting between the two neighbours enters its sixth day.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as online “disinformation” and reiterating the strength of relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has appeared in court on Monday alongside 400 co-defendants in a sprawling corruption case that critics say is designed to derail his political ambitions. The charges allege a network of corruption and organised crime linked to the mayor’s office.
Russian grain is once again moving by rail to Armenia along a route that had been closed for decades. The latest freight train departed from Baku on 9 March carrying hundreds of tonnes of grain.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment