Afghanistan-USA Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $68.80M total volume •Afghanistan deficit: $27.58M

AfghanistanUSA

$20.61M

Exports (2023)

USAAfghanistan

$48.19M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$27.58M

Deficit for Afghanistan

Total Trade

$68.80M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Afghanistan and USA. Green line shows exports from Afghanistan, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Afghanistan-USA commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

AfghanistanUSA Exports

$20.61M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
19.4% top product
1Carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up
$4.01M
19.4% of exports
2Fruit, edible: grapes, dried
$3.41M
16.6% of exports
3Fruit, edible: figs, fresh or dried
$1.73M
8.4% of exports
4Spices: saffron
$1.02M
4.9% of exports
5Fruit, edible: fruit n.e.c. in heading no. 0812, dried
$971,770
4.7% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Afghanistan's export portfolio to USA demonstrates strategic specialization, with carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

USAAfghanistan Imports

$48.19M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
63.4% concentration
1Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken
$30.53M
63.4% of imports
2Dairy produce: milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content not exceeding 1.5% (by weight)
$3.49M
7.2% of imports
3Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$2.91M
6.0% of imports
4Nuts, edible: almonds, fresh or dried, in shell
$1.81M
3.8% of imports
5Nuts, edible: almonds, fresh or dried, shelled
$955,920
2.0% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Afghanistan's import pattern from USA reveals significant dependencyin soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Afghanistan demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcarpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up to USA, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $68.80M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Afghanistan-USA Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $68.80 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Afghanistan maintains a deficit of $27.58 million
  • Export Focus: Afghanistan's primary exports include carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up, fruit, edible: grapes, dried, fruit, edible: figs, fresh or dried
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from USA include soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, dairy produce: milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content not exceeding 1.5% (by weight), communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $68.80M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Afghanistan leveraging its comparative advantages in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Afghanistan's specialization in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made upcomplements USA's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $68.80M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $68.80M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $68.80 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up and soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Afghanistan's trade deficit of $27.58 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in fruit, edible: grapes, dried present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Afghanistan and USA represents a total trade volume of $68.80 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Afghanistan, with imports exceeding exportsby $27.58 million.

Export Strengths

Afghanistan's exports to USA total $20.61 million, with competitive advantages in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up, representing $4.01M or19.4% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from USA amount to $48.19 million, highlighting economic interdependence in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, with Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken comprising63.4% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Afghanistan's strategic sourcing from USA. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Afghanistan and USA in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023