KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan has exported agricultural products valued at $737 million over the past nine months of the year, according to Taliban authorities.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the office of the Taliban deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, reported that cotton, raisins, alfalfa (inje), figs, onions, and saffron made up the majority of items exported during the reporting period.
According to the Taliban, Afghanistan has exported cotton valued at $162 million, raisins valued at $93 million, alfalfa valued at $80 million, and figs valued at $97 million in the past nine months.
The majority of Afghanistan’s agricultural goods were exported to Iran, followed by Pakistan, India, Germany, Turkey, and China, according to the Taliban report.
Afghanistan is primarily an import-dependent country, with a trade deficit estimated at around $7 billion. According to the Taliban-controlled National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA), in the solar year 1402 (from March 2023 to March 2024), Afghanistan’s imports were valued at approximately $8.57 billion, while its exports totaled around $1.78 billion.
The main imports of Afghanistan consist of petroleum products, machinery, vehicles, spare parts, metals, and various manufactured goods. In contrast, exports are primarily dominated by agricultural items, with cotton and fresh fruits holding the largest share.
Iran has emerged as the largest source of imports for Afghanistan, accounting for 30% of total imports, according to the World Bank. This increase can be attributed to Afghanistan’s shift in transit trade routes to Iran, following recent border restrictions imposed by Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly, making it one of the world’s most critical crises. Currently, over half of the population—nearly 24 million people—requires urgent humanitarian assistance.
The country, which has relied heavily on foreign aid for decades, is now facing a significant funding shortfall. The UN’s 2024 appeal for $3.06 billion has only been 30% funded so far, with just two months left in the year.
