Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Afghanistan

Asia

In 2025 the United States exported $11.4 million of goods to Afghanistan and imported $34.6 million from there. Afghanistan ranked 201st among US export markets and 152nd among sources of US imports.

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US exports, 2025
$11.4MUp 0.6% on 2024 ($11.3 million)
US imports, 2025
$34.6MUp 53.3% on 2024 ($22.6 million)
Goods balance
$23.2MUS deficit
Export market rank
201stAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
152ndAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Afghanistan

Optical, medical and precision instruments (chapter 90) led US exports to Afghanistan at $2.4 million, 22% of the total. The top three chapters made up 46%.

  1. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$2.4 million21.5%
  2. 30Pharmaceutical products$1.5 million13.5%
  3. 38Miscellaneous chemical products$1.3 million11.1%
  4. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$1.1 million10.1%
  5. 52Cotton$776 thousand6.8%

US imports from Afghanistan

Fruit and nuts (chapter 08) led US imports from Afghanistan at $9.7 million, 28% of the total. The top three chapters made up 62%.

  1. 08Fruit and nuts$9.7 million28.0%
  2. 57Carpets$6.0 million17.5%
  3. 97Works of art and antiques$5.8 million16.7%
  4. 20Prepared vegetables and fruit$2.9 million8.4%
  5. 98Special classification provisions$2.4 million7.0%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Afghanistan, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Afghanistan.

Exports through the port, 2025
$19K0.2% of the US total with Afghanistan
Leading export goods
Special classification provisionsHS chapter 98, $19 thousand
Imports through the port, 2025
$340K1.0% of the US total with Afghanistan
Leading import goods
Fruit and nutsHS chapter 08, $178 thousand

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Getting cargo to Afghanistan

Afghanistan is landlocked. Ocean cargo for Afghanistan discharges at a seaport in a neighboring country and moves on by road or rail.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.