In the first two months of the current year, bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Russia increased by 2.6 percent.
According to Russian officials, trade between Kabul and Moscow is significant and has the potential for further growth.
Russia’s “Pivot to Asia” media outlet, which mainly covers the country’s economic and trade affairs, reported citing the Russian Deputy Prime Minister that in 2025, the trade volume between Afghanistan and Russia was around 326 million US dollars, but in the first two months of the current year it increased to around 500 million dollars.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said:
“We take bilateral trade with Afghanistan seriously. There are significant opportunities for growth in trade with Afghanistan. Although current figures are still relatively low, our data shows that in 2025 the trade volume was around 326 million US dollars, and in the first two months of 2026 it increased to about 500 million dollars. This shows that trade increased by 2.6 percent in the early months of 2026.”
He also said that Russian exports to Afghanistan increased 2.8 times this year, while imports from Afghanistan to Russia increased 1.9 times.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister added:
“Afghans still remember and appreciate the products that were exported during the former Soviet Union era, such as Soviet cars and trucks, and they say that if Russia resumes such exports, it would be very beneficial.”
Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of Higher Education said that the Afghan delegation discussed strengthening economic and trade relations with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister during a meeting.
According to a statement from the ministry, the Higher Education Minister emphasized continued relations during the 17th Kazan International Forum and stressed that both countries should work to advance their trade relations directly, without intermediaries.
Economic analyst Abdul Nasir Rastiya said:
“There is no doubt that Afghanistan’s trade with all countries, especially Russia and Central Asian states, is increasing day by day. However, the key question is how much of this is exports. If exports also increase, then we can say we are moving toward economic growth and improvement. But if we rely only on imports, it does not create economic benefit and may even have negative consequences.”
Some Afghan traders also acknowledge that recent growth in trade with Russia is linked to political stability in Afghanistan and Russia’s recognition of the Islamic Emirate.
Trader Abdul Jabbar Saapi said:
“Our trade with other countries has also increased, but with Russia it is growing significantly in many sectors. The more our political relations improve, the more our trade increases. Russia wants good relations with Afghanistan and aims to supply its products to Afghanistan.”
A few months ago, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that in 2025 the trade volume between Kabul and Moscow reached 538 million dollars, including 650,000 tons of oil worth 400 million dollars imported into Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has recently expanded its trade with Russia and Central Asia, and the Islamic Emirate is seeking to further benefit from its relations with Russia for economic growth.
