USA-Afghanistan Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $68.80M total volume •USA surplus: $27.58M

USAAfghanistan

$48.19M

Exports (2023)

AfghanistanUSA

$20.61M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$27.58M

Surplus for USA

Total Trade

$68.80M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

USAAfghanistan Exports

$48.19M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
63.4% top product
1Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken
$30.53M
63.4% of exports
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 exports
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 exports
4Nuts, edible: almonds, fresh or dried, in shell
$1.81M
3.8% of exports
5Nuts, edible: almonds, fresh or dried, shelled
$955,920
2.0% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

USA's export portfolio to Afghanistan demonstrates strategic specialization, with soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

AfghanistanUSA Imports

$20.61M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

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

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

USA's import pattern from Afghanistan reveals significant dependencyin carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

USA demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsoya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken to Afghanistan, 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: USA-Afghanistan Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $68.80 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: USA maintains a surplus of $27.58 million
  • Export Focus: USA's primary exports 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
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Afghanistan 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

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 USA leveraging its comparative advantages in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken.

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

USA's specialization in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not brokencomplements Afghanistan's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up.

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

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

USA's trade surplus of $27.58 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in 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) present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up, 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 soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken 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 USA and Afghanistan represents a total trade volume of $68.80 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for USA, with exports exceeding importsby $27.58 million.

Export Strengths

USA's exports to Afghanistan total $48.19 million, with competitive advantages in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, representing $30.53M or63.4% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Afghanistan amount to $20.61 million, highlighting economic interdependence in carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up, with Carpets and other textile floor coverings: knotted, of wool or fine animal hair, whether or not made up comprising19.4% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates USA's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. 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 USA and Afghanistan in multiple formats.

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