KABUL: Afghanistan’s trade volume in 2024 reached a significant milestone, surpassing 12 billion U.S. dollars. This marks a notable shift in the country’s trade dynamics, with imports increasing by 38 percent compared to the previous year, while exports saw a reduction of 4 percent, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Afghanistan’s total trade in goods amounted to 12.42 billion dollars in 2024. Of this, exports constituted 1.8 billion dollars, whereas imports surged to approximately 10.6 billion dollars. The ministry’s spokesman, Akundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, highlighted the growth in exports to countries such as Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates, noting that these exports had doubled over the year.
The demand for agricultural products, processed food items, textiles, leather, electrical parts, and construction materials drove the increase in imports. Afghanistan’s main exports continued to be coal, saffron, fresh and dried fruits, hand-woven carpets, and precious and semi-precious stones. These figures underline a changing landscape in Afghanistan’s trade relationships and economic focus.
