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
