Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan have shown an impressive growth of 92.05%, reaching $504.3 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2024-25, compared to $262.5 million in the same period last year, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Significant Growth in Exports to Afghanistan
- Afghanistan-Pakistan trade relations are improving, as seen by the enormous 248.45% annual increase in exports.
- In the last month of 2024, Pakistan exported various products of approximately $97.6 million to Afghanistan, a significant increase from $28 million in the same month the previous year.
- However, the export rate has seen a slight decline of 15.02% month over month, from $114.9 million in November 2024 to $97.6 million in December 2024.
Overall, Pakistan’s export rate increased by 7 percent in the first quarter of FY2024-25. Exports have reached to $16.25 billion but it was stopped at $15.1 billion in 2024. The export rise reflects a stronger demand for Pakistani goods and products in the international market. Moreover, the import rate from Afghanistan to PK also doubled. This surge suggests a strengthening bilateral trade relationship, as Afghanistan remains an important trade partner for Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan starts export of cardiac stents to Iran, Afghanistan and African countries
Yearly and Monthly Import Trends
Imports from Afghanistan rose by 18.41%, reaching $1.46 million in December 2024 annually, compared to $1.23 million in December 2023. Likewise, imports increased by 8.27%, up from $1.35 million in November 2024 on monthly basis.
Broader Economic Outlook
All-inclusive imports witnessed a 9.33% rise, massive increase from $25.3 billion in 2023-24 to $27.7 billion in 2024-25. While import growth often raises concerns about trade imbalances, the concurrent increase in exports and remittances suggests economic resilience and expanding trade opportunities.
With Afghanistan being a key regional trade partner, this robust export performance highlights the growing economic ties between the two neighboring nations.