Afghanistan’s exports exceed $1.3b in 2024: MoCI

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan exported and imported goods worth 12 billion and 422 million US dollars in 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) said on Monday.

MoCI’s spokesman Akhunzada Abdul Salam Javad told Pajhwok Afghan News Afghanistan made trade transactions worth $12.422 billion with a number of countries in the past year.

He said the imports valued at about $10.619 billion and exports about $1.308 billion.

The imports included spare parts, vehicle machinery, oil, electrical machinery and equipment, wheat, flour, raw materials for industrial plants, natural gas, linen, rice, and medical supplies, which were imported from Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, China, and Turkmenistan, Javad added.

According to him, the exports included cotton, figs, raisins, yams, and coal to Pakistan, India, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkey, China, Iraq and Tajikistan.

Javad explained without providing details, Afghanistan's exports to Pakistan and China decreased in 2024 compared to 2023, but exports to Turkey and India increased.

Afghanistan’s exports to Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE have doubled.

Meanwhile, economic analysts say for Afghanistan to transform from an importing country to an exporting country, it needs to invest in industry, agriculture, and mining.

Noorullah Aziz, an economic analyst, told Pajhwok greater level of trade could make Afghanistan economy stronger.

A positive trade balance means exports in a country’s trade increase and this has a direct impact on the balance of payments, Aziz added.

According to Aziz, if a country’s imports are dominated by consumer goods, this situation is not good for the country’s economic situation, such as Afghanistan.

And to overcome this situation, there is need to invest heavily in industry, agriculture, mining, and other sectors to increase domestic production.

As domestic production increases, domestic demand will be met and the volume of imports will gradually decrease, and the level of exports will increase.

Abdul Nasir Rashtia, another economic analyst, explained Afghanistan still has a trade balance deficit and imports worth about eight billion dollars, but its exports are still very low.

“The government needs to focus all its efforts on boosting production; primarily increasing exports, which can provide jobs and increasing exports could help stabilize the afghani,” the analyst said.

Countries that rely on imports are always dependent on other countries, and when domestic production improves, exports increase, which undoubtedly leads to achieving economic independence.

In 2023, Afghanistan's trade volume was $9.594 billion --- about $7.710 billion imports and $1.884 billion exports.

hz/ma