U.S. trade with Afghanistan rose 52.11 percent through August

Afghanistan’s trade with the United States increased to $34.09 M through the first eight months of 2025, according to a WorldCity analysis of latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 52.11 percent above its total trade during the same time period last year ago. U.S. exports to Afghanistan increased 5.69 percent while U.S. imports from Afghanistan rose 79.24 percent. The U.S. deficit with Afghanistan was $16.62 M.

Through August, the top five among the nation’s airports, seaports and border crossings were No. 1 Port of Newark; No. 2 JFK International Airport land-based cargo; No. 3 Buffalo Peace Bridge, NY; No. 4 San Francisco International Airport, CA; and No. 5 Port of Houston. During the same period the previous year, the top five were No. 1 Buffalo Peace Bridge, NY; No. 2 John F. Kennedy International Airport; No. 3 Port of New York; No. 4 Port of Charleston and No. 5 Port of Newark. In the current time period, the top five accounted for 49.99 percent of Afghanistan’s U.S. trade.

Among those top five:

• Trade with No.1 Port of Newark rose 291.14 percent to $5.23 million.
  Exports rose 263.43 percent to $338,427. Imports rose 293.21 percent to $4.89 million.
• Trade with No.2 JFK International Airport land-based cargo rose 625.7 percent to $4 million.
  There were no exports. Imports rose 625.7 percent to $4 million.
• Trade with No.3 Buffalo Peace Bridge, NY fell 6.07 percent to $3.35 million.
  There were no exports. Imports fell 6.07 percent to $3.35 million.
• Trade with No.4 San Francisco International Airport, CA rose 327.57 percent to $2.4 million.
  Exports rose 648.7 percent to $1.26 million. Imports rose 189.73 percent to $1.14 million.
• Trade with No.5 Port of Houston rose 1667 percent to $2.06 million.
  Exports rose 3624 percent to $1.67 million. Imports rose 444.75 percent to $390,336.

Afghanistan ranked No. 182 among the United States’ top trade partners through the current period. In the same period one year ago, it ranked No. 191.

Meanwhile, total U.S. trade with the world increased to $3.75 T, up 6.87 percent compared to the same period last year. The nation’s exports climbed 3.86 percent to $1.43 T; imports climbed 8.81 percent to $2.32 T. The nation’s top five countries so far this year, by value, are Mexico; Canada; China; Switzerland and Germany. The overall trade deficit was $892.21 B, up compared to the same period of last year when the deficit was $757.53 B.

The top five U.S. exports to Afghanistan by value through August were the categories of Medical instruments; Misc. medical chemical re-agents; Medicines in individual dosages; Cotton; and Perfumes, respectively. They accounted for 61.77 percent of total exports to Afghanistan.

The value of the top five categories of U.S. imports from Afghanistan –– Collectors items of historic or botanic interest; Carpets, othert textile floor coverings, knotted; Grapes, fresh or dried; Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.; and Ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, other spices –– accounted for 57.81 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at U.S. exports to Afghanistan:

• Medical instruments rose 66.27 percent compared to last year to $1.8 million.
• Misc. medical chemical re-agents rose 871.99 percent compared to last year to $1.24 million.
• Medicines in individual dosages rose 3134 percent compared to last year to $1.05 million.
• Cotton totaled $776,307. The previous year, there were no export in this category.
• Perfumes rose 366.01 percent compared to last year to $528,135.

Looking more closely at U.S. imports from Afghanistan:

• Collectors items of historic or botanic interest rose 4422 percent compared to last year to $4.57 million.
• Carpets, othert textile floor coverings, knotted rose 67.1 percent compared to last year to $3.5 million.
• Grapes, fresh or dried rose 50.69 percent compared to last year to $3.21 million.
• Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc. rose 323.35 percent compared to last year to $1.73 million.
• Ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, other spices rose 43.49 percent compared to last year to $1.65 million.

In the latest annual figures available, Afghanistan recorded $34.04 M in trade with the United States. Total U.S. exports to Afghanistan were $ 11.45 M and imports from Afghanistan were $22.59 M. The U.S. deficit with Afghanistan was $11.14 M.