Afghanistan’s total trade volume has reached approximately $13bn over, according to Amu, citing the Taliban’s minister of industry and commerce, Nooruddin Azizi.
Speaking at a one-year performance review in Kabul, Azizi said 8mn metric tons of goods were transited through the country during this period. It was claimed that Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by 10%, with overall trade increasing by the same rate and exports surging by 25%. He outlined the ministry’s goals to attract $500mn in investment in the coming year and create over 100 new jobs.
However, these optimistic figures contrast with the harsh realities many Afghans face. Citizens continue to voice frustrations over deepening poverty, widespread unemployment, and a shrinking formal economy since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Numerous former civil servants and workers report job losses and limited economic opportunities.
Economic ties with key partners have also weakened. Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan — historically one of Afghanistan’s largest trading partners — has sharply declined. Pakistani media reported that bilateral trade dropped from $2.5bn to about $1bn this year, citing ongoing border closures and a lack of trade policy coordination.
Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, deputy head of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned that continued disruptions could severely damage the economic relationship between the two neighbors. Pakistan primarily exports cement, rice, pharmaceuticals, flour, sugar, and vegetables to Afghanistan, while Afghan exports to Pakistan largely consist of fresh fruits and agricultural products.
Experts and observers note that persistent political instability and repeated tensions at key border crossings have hindered the flow of goods, further undermining recovery efforts for Afghanistan’s fragile economy.
Earlier, it was reported that trade between Tajikistan and neighboring Afghanistan saw strong growth in early 2025, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $40mn in the first five months—a 31.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
At the same time, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with Afghanistan rose sharply to $622mn from January to May 2025, up from $382.1mn in 2024 and $329.3mn in 2023 for the same period.
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