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Afghanistan

U.S.-Afghanistan Trade Facts

In 2019, Afghanistan GDP was an estimated $18.7 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 3.0%; and the population was 37 million. (Source: IMF)

Afghanistan is currently our 105th largest goods trading partner with $797 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $758 million; goods imports totaled $39 million. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Afghanistan was $719 million in 2019.

According to the Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of goods to Afghanistan supported an estimated 2 thousand jobs in 2015 (latest data available).

Exports

  • Afghanistan was the United States' 85th largest goods export market in 2019.
  • U.S. goods exports to Afghanistan in 2019 were $758 million, down 38.3% ($470 million) from 2018 and down 49.8% from 2009. 
  • The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: aircraft ($167 million), electrical machinery ($149 million), vehicles ($125 million), machinery ($74 million), and arms and ammunition ($56 million).
  • U.S. total exports of agricultural products to Afghanistan totaled $29 million in 2019. Leading domestic export categories include: poultry meat & products (ex. eggs) ($15 million), dairy products ($8 million), tree nuts ($4 million), planting seeds ($131 thousand), and snack foods not elsewhere specified or indicated ($53 thousand).

Imports

  • Afghanistan was the United States' 147th largest supplier of goods imports in 2019.
  • U.S. goods imports from Afghanistan totaled $39 million in 2019, up 35.8% ($10 million) from 2018, but down 66.6% from 2009. 
  • The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: precious metal and stone (other stones, not strung) ($21 million), carpets and other textile coverings ($6 million), edible fruit & nuts (grapes)  ($4 million), special other (returns) ($3 million), and special other (low value estimates) ($1 million).
  • U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Afghanistan totaled $5 million in 2019. Leading categories include: processed fruit & vegetables ($4 million), spices ($504 thousand), tree nuts ($236 thousand), snack foods ($32 thousand), and tea, including herbal ($26 thousand).

Trade Balance

  • The U.S. goods trade surplus with Afghanistan was $719 million in 2019, a 40.0% decrease ($480 million) over 2018.

Investment

  • U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Afghanistan (stock) was $18 million in 2019, unchanged from 2018. There is no information on the distribution of U.S. FDI in Afghanistan.
  • No data on Afghanistan's FDI in the U.S. are available. There is no information on the distribution of Afghanistan FDI in the U.S.

NOTE: No services trade data with Afghanistan are available.

U.S. Goods Trade with Afghanistan (in millions of dollars)

 

2009

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total

1624.7

887.2

502.3

947.6

956.7

1256.0

796.5

Exports

1508.6

812.7

478.7

913.9

942.2

1227.4

757.7

Imports

116.1

74.5

23.6

33.7

14.4

28.6

38.8

Balance

1392.5

738.2

455.1

880.2

927.8

1198.8

719.0

 

U.S. Agricultural Trade with Afghanistan (in millions of dollars)

 

2009

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total

59.1

34.5

35.0

26.8

2.2

38.7

34.0

Exports

52.6

31.4

32.5

24.6

0.0

31.1

28.7

Imports

6.5

3.1

2.5

2.2

2.2

7.6

5.3

Balance

46.2

28.3

30.1

22.4

-2.2

23.5

23.3

 

U.S. Manufacturing Trade with Afghanistan (in millions of dollars)

 

2009

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total

1478.2

796.9

472.6

910.4

932.6

1218.2

768.0

Exports

1473.1

790.3

458.8

894.7

922.6

1195.7

733.9

Imports

5.1

6.6

13.8

15.7

10.0

22.5

34.1

Balance

1468.0

783.7

445.0

879.0

912.5

1173.2

699.9

 

Last updated:October 2, 2020