Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan surged to $1.7 billion in 2025, according to reports citing Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee.
Kabul 24: Uzbek media outlets and news agencies highlighted this figure, marking a substantial increase from approximately $1.1 billion in 2024—an impressive year-on-year growth of around 54.5%.Official data shows Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover reached $81.2 billion in 2025, with relations established across 210 countries worldwide.
Afghanistan ranked among the top partners, with trade volumes reported at $1.7 billion in several sources, including references aligning with Uzbekistan’s overall export diversification efforts.Some outlets, such as Ariana News and Trend.az, cited $1.6 billion as the precise figure, reflecting a 45.5% rise from 2024 and an 84.4% jump compared to 2023 (when bilateral trade stood at $867.5 million).
The discrepancy between $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion appears in different reporting streams, but both confirm rapid expansion driven by strengthened economic ties.Uzbekistan’s exports to Afghanistan dominated the relationship, totaling around $1.5 billion (approximately 93.8% of total turnover).
Key exported goods included food products, energy resources (oil, gas, and derivatives), industrial items, construction materials, and chemicals.
In contrast, Afghan exports to Uzbekistan remained limited, primarily consisting of dried fruits, agricultural products, and some minerals.
This remarkable growth stems from intensified bilateral efforts to boost economic cooperation, especially following heightened border tensions with Pakistan in late 2025, which prompted Afghanistan to pivot toward northern neighbors like Uzbekistan.
Joint infrastructure projects—such as railway links, power transmission lines, and improved customs facilities at border crossings like Hairatan and Termez—played a pivotal role in facilitating higher trade volumes.
Analysts view this trend as a clear shift in Afghanistan’s trade patterns toward Central Asia.
Uzbekistan has emerged as one of Kabul’s most vital economic partners, supplying essential goods to the Afghan market. Both sides have set ambitious targets to push bilateral trade beyond $2 billion in the coming years.
This upward trajectory benefits both economies and serves as a model for regional collaboration amid complex geopolitical dynamics.
Continued progress is expected to reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on traditional southern trade routes while solidifying Uzbekistan’s position as a key supplier of vital commodities to its southern neighbor.
