Trade partner
U.S. Imports
$1.7M
August 2026
U.S. Exports
$5.4M
August 2026
Trade surplus
$3.7M
August 2026 · U.S. exports more than it imports
In August 2026 the United States imported $1.7M from Afghanistan and exported $5.4M to it, across 231 imported product categories.
Over the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $27.4M from Afghanistan and exported $24.7M to it. In August 2026, the U.S. ran a monthly goods trade surplus of $3.7M with Afghanistan, exporting 3.2× as much as it imported. U.S. goods imports from Afghanistan of $1.7M in August 2026 ran 34% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.6M.
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central/South Asia whose trade environment has been severely impacted by decades of conflict and, since August 2021, by the Taliban's return to governance, which has triggered international sanctions and suspension of foreign aid. The country's primary exports include dried fruits, nuts, carpets, medicinal plants, and precious stones, while it relies heavily on imports of food, fuel, machinery, and consumer goods. Key transit routes run through Pakistan and Iran, and Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, the US froze Afghan central bank assets and OFAC designated Taliban-affiliated entities; exporters must conduct rigorous screening against SDN lists and comply with US export control regulations before engaging in trade with Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's main exports are dried fruits and nuts (especially raisins, figs, and almonds), hand-woven carpets and rugs, medicinal herbs, and precious and semi-precious stones, with Pakistan, India, and regional markets as key buyers.
Afghanistan relies primarily on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) route through Pakistan's Karachi port, as well as overland routes through Iran's Bandar Abbas port, due to its landlocked geography.
The top U.S. imports from Afghanistan are Knotted Wool & Fine Animal Hair Carpets and Floor Coverings, Saffron and Figs, Fresh or Dried, by value in the latest month.
| Rank | Product | Import value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $462K | |
| 2 | $348K | |
| 3 | $177K | |
| 4 | $72K | |
| 5 | $70K | |
| 6 | $68K | |
| 7 | $62K | |
| 8 | $61K | |
| 9 | Estimated Imports of Low-Valued TransactionsChapter 99 · Special Import Reporting Provisions | $59K |
| 10 | $57K |
| Rank | Product | Export value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.0M | |
| 2 | $97K | |
| 3 | Low-Value Export Shipments & Canadian Estimated Late ReceiptsChapter 98 · Special Classification Provisions | $95K |
| 4 | $89K | |
| 5 | $26K | |
| 6 | $17K | |
| 7 | $13K | |
| 8 | $12K | |
| 9 | $11K | |
| 10 | $0 |
Members only
Import and export trend charts are available to members. Creating an account is free.
Annual data from BEA | 2025
Services Exports
$692.0M
Services Imports
$1.0B