The World Bank says that although Afghanistan’s economy is gradually recovering, millions of Afghans still live under severe economic hardship due to poverty, financial pressures, food insecurity, and a growing trade deficit.
In 2024, Afghanistan’s total trade volume reached approximately $13 billion. However, only $2 billion of that came from exports, while the remaining $11 billion represented imports—highlighting the country’s heavy dependence on foreign goods.
Experts point to several key reasons behind this imbalance: the ongoing drought has increased the need for imported food, domestic production remains low, and there is strong demand for consumer goods in local markets.
The World Bank warns that persistent poverty, reduced international aid, high unemployment, and declining purchasing power are major obstacles to economic recovery. Adding to these pressures is the return of nearly one million Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran, which has further strained the country’s fragile economy.
To gain deeper insight into these challenges, we spoke with Muzamil Shinwari, former Deputy Minister of Commerce and an expert in international trade, for a detailed analysis of Afghanistan’s current trade situation.
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