Importer opportunity guide
Explore Afghanistan's import market by product, supplier concentration, demand growth, and sourcing gaps. Use reported market size and calculated indicators to decide where deeper supplier research may be useful.
Afghanistan import opportunities
Compare market size and growth with supplier concentration. A large market may still need product, quality, tariff, logistics, and buyer validation.
Largest market shown
$726.4M of latest reported imports and $1.2B of calculated three-year opportunity.
Current import base
Afghanistan recorded $8.4B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +4.4%.
How to use the guide
Start with the highest-value products, then review supplier concentration and market conditions before choosing a sourcing route.
Import market overview
This page separates reported import observations from calculated indicators so market size is not mistaken for a guaranteed sourcing opportunity.
Afghanistan imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $8.4B of imports in 2024, while the opportunity view highlights product and supplier combinations where market demand and supply context may justify further research.
Use the opportunity table to compare product market size, demand growth, supplier counts, concentration, and projected imports. High concentration can indicate reliance on a small supplier base; it can also reflect specialized products that require careful validation.
Top import opportunities
The top 50 screened products are ranked by calculated three-year opportunity. Reported market values and calculated indicators are labeled separately.
| Rank | Product | Market size | Demand growth | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Projected imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS 490700Unused postage, revenue or similar stamps of current or new issue in the country in which they have, or will have, a recognised face value: stamp-impressed paper: cheque forms: banknotes, stock, share or bond certificates and the like of similar title | $726.4MLatest imports | +19.4% | 3 | 9999 | ARESlowing | $1.2B |
| 2 | HS 240220Cigarettes: containing tobacco | $662.4MLatest imports | +11.2% | 8 | 9659 | AREDeclining | $910.6M |
| 3 | HS 841191Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers | $365.8MLatest imports | +74.1% | 1 | 10000 | AREGrowing | $714.4M |
| 4 | HS 100630Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed | $362.1MLatest imports | +49.2% | 6 | 9895 | PAKDeclining | $707.1M |
| 5 | HS 110100Wheat or meslin flour | $640.5MLatest imports | +23.4% | 5 | 4972 | UZBDeclining | $1.2B |
| 6 | HS 711319Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof | $234.4MLatest imports | +41.2% | 5 | 9466 | ARESlowing | $457.7M |
| 7 | HS 151190Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $236.4MLatest imports | +24.1% | 4 | 8895 | MYSGrowing | $452.3M |
| 8 | HS 851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $191.2MLatest imports | +33.9% | 10 | 8300 | AREDeclining | $373.5M |
| 9 | HS 170199Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $234.1MLatest imports | +15.1% | 7 | 8870 | PAKDeclining | $356.8M |
| 10 | HS 271012Product description unavailable | $201.5MLatest imports | +18.2% | 6 | 6536 | UZBDeclining | $333.2M |
| 11 | HS 540752Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed | $136.7MLatest imports | +14.7% | 5 | 9411 | CHNGrowing | $206.1M |
| 12 | HS 270799Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar: n.e.s. in heading no. 2707 | $98.6MLatest imports | +57.4% | 1 | 10000 | IRNSlowing | $192.6M |
| 13 | HS 071339Vegetables, leguminous: n.e.c. in item no. 0713.3, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $91.8MLatest imports | +52.9% | 2 | 9992 | UZBStable | $179.2M |
| 14 | HS 271600Electrical energy | $90.7MLatest imports | +50.2% | 1 | 10000 | UZBGrowing | $177.1M |
| 15 | HS 871120Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars | $109.3MLatest imports | +27.8% | 5 | 6330 | CHNStable | $213.5M |
| 16 | HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $173.8MLatest imports | +15.7% | 32 | 4085 | PAKDeclining | $268.9M |
| 17 | HS 850440Electrical static converters | $76.0MLatest imports | +59.1% | 15 | 9715 | CHNGrowing | $148.4M |
| 18 | HS 271121Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: in gaseous state, natural gas | $136.1MLatest imports | +63.6% | 9 | 4997 | IRNDeclining | $265.7M |
| 19 | HS 252329Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured | $85.0MLatest imports | +15.7% | 5 | 8686 | PAKSlowing | $131.5M |
| 20 | HS 310210Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solution | $62.0MLatest imports | +47.5% | 1 | 10000 | UZBAccelerating | $121.1M |
| 21 | HS 271019Product description unavailable | $116.1MLatest imports | +13.0% | 13 | 5441 | AREDeclining | $167.6M |
| 22 | HS 854140Electrical apparatus: photosensitive, including photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels, light emitting diodes | $61.6MLatest imports | +38.4% | 9 | 9737 | CHNGrowing | $120.4M |
| 23 | HS 551511Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.s. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres | $104.1MLatest imports | +13.7% | 3 | 6265 | CHNDeclining | $153.2M |
| 24 | HS 300439Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $66.5MLatest imports | +22.6% | 12 | 8843 | PAKDeclining | $122.7M |
| 25 | HS 401120Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorries | $110.7MLatest imports | +3.0% | 15 | 8239 | CHNDeclining | $120.8M |
| 26 | HS 540754Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, printed | $61.0MLatest imports | +21.5% | 3 | 9957 | CHNStable | $109.4M |
| 27 | HS 070190Vegetables: potatoes (other than seed), fresh or chilled | $52.5MLatest imports | +65.4% | 3 | 10000 | PAKDeclining | $102.5M |
| 28 | HS 240319Tobacco: smoking, other than water pipe tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any proportion | $51.1MLatest imports | +30.2% | 3 | 9859 | AREDeclining | $99.7M |
| 29 | HS 290290Cyclic hydrocarbons: n.e.c. in heading no. 2902 | $49.8MLatest imports | +83.9% | 4 | 9938 | IRNSlowing | $97.3M |
| 30 | HS 271111Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas | $47.2MLatest imports | +52.9% | 1 | 10000 | IRNStable | $92.2M |
| 31 | HS 210690Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10 | $92.6MLatest imports | +22.2% | 25 | 3043 | PAKDeclining | $168.8M |
| 32 | HS 600632Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyed | $43.5MLatest imports | +39.7% | 4 | 9982 | CHNGrowing | $85.0M |
| 33 | HS 761290Aluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or less, whether or not lined or heat-insulated, no mechanical or thermal equipment | $76.4MLatest imports | +27.2% | 4 | 5054 | PAKGrowing | $149.3M |
| 34 | HS 841370Pumps: centrifugal, n.e.c. in heading no. 8413, for liquids | $44.9MLatest imports | +20.7% | 9 | 9151 | CHNSlowing | $78.9M |
| 35 | HS 300220Vaccines: for human medicine | $75.2MLatest imports | +48.9% | 8 | 3479 | BELDeclining | $146.9M |
| 36 | HS 850152Electric motors: AC motors, multi-phase, of an output exceeding 750W but not exceeding 75kW | $35.0MLatest imports | +71.1% | 7 | 9901 | CHNDeclining | $68.4M |
| 37 | HS 401110Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars) | $69.0MLatest imports | +15.8% | 16 | 4824 | AREDeclining | $107.0M |
| 38 | HS 720390Ferrous products: spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms | $50.1MLatest imports | +87.1% | 12 | 4826 | IRNGrowing | $97.9M |
| 39 | HS 310530Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate) | $33.9MLatest imports | +35.4% | 3 | 9072 | UZBDeclining | $66.3M |
| 40 | HS 520811Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, unbleached, plain weave, weighing not more than 100g/m2 | $35.8MLatest imports | +20.7% | 2 | 9993 | CHNDeclining | $62.9M |
| 41 | HS 080529Fruit, edible: tangelos, wilkings and similar citrus hybrid, fresh or dried | $29.1MLatest imports | +57.5% | 1 | 10000 | PAKGrowing | $56.9M |
| 42 | HS 551219Fabrics, woven: of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester staple fibres, other than unbleached or bleached | $45.0MLatest imports | +11.3% | 3 | 8451 | CHNGrowing | $62.0M |
| 43 | HS 100199Cereals: wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat, other than seed | $45.7MLatest imports | +6.4% | 2 | 8668 | KAZDeclining | $55.1M |
| 44 | HS 230400Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil | $33.8MLatest imports | +45.6% | 4 | 6485 | INDGrowing | $66.0M |
| 45 | HS 100610Cereals: rice in the husk (paddy or rough) | $23.8MLatest imports | +79.4% | 2 | 9293 | PAKDeclining | $46.6M |
| 46 | HS 581092Embroidery: with visible ground, of man-made fibres, in the piece, in strips or in motifs | $27.8MLatest imports | +13.6% | 3 | 9999 | CHNDeclining | $40.8M |
| 47 | HS 151620Vegetable fats and oils and their fractions: partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised, whether or not refined, but not further prepared | $27.8MLatest imports | +12.0% | 5 | 9725 | PAKStable | $39.0M |
| 48 | HS 441193Fibreboard (other than MDF) of a density exceeding 0.5g/cm3 but not 0.8g/cm3, of wood or other ligneous materials, bonded or not with resins or other organic substances | $19.3MLatest imports | +54.5% | 2 | 9998 | PAKGrowing | $37.8M |
| 49 | HS 190190Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, for uses n.e.s. in heading no. 1901 | $29.4MLatest imports | +31.4% | 11 | 4666 | PAKDeclining | $57.4M |
| 50 | HS 870321Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not exceeding 1000cc | $18.8MLatest imports | +26.4% | 7 | 9962 | INDDeclining | $36.7M |
Showing the five highest-ranked products on mobile. View the complete import opportunity data.
Product sectors
HS2 sectors group the screened products into broader families for an easier first comparison.
| Sector | Products | Market size | Opportunity | Average growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printed matterHS2 49 | 1 | $726.4M | $1.2B | +19.4% |
| TobaccoHS2 24 | 2 | $713.4M | $993.9M | +20.7% |
| CerealsHS2 10 | 3 | $431.6M | $799.5M | +45.0% |
| MachineryHS2 84 | 2 | $410.6M | $789.8M | +47.4% |
| Electrical equipmentHS2 85 | 4 | $363.9M | $671.6M | +50.6% |
| Milling productsHS2 11 | 1 | $640.5M | $604.4M | +23.4% |
| Mineral fuelsHS2 27 | 4 | $372.6M | $601.7M | +56.0% |
| Animal and vegetable fatsHS2 15 | 2 | $264.2M | $464.4M | +18.0% |
| Precious stones and metalsHS2 71 | 1 | $234.4M | $445.2M | +41.2% |
| HS2 sector 00HS2 00 | 2 | $317.6M | $378.2M | +15.6% |
| Pharmaceutical productsHS2 30 | 3 | $315.6M | $342.6M | +29.1% |
| Sugars and sugar confectioneryHS2 17 | 1 | $234.1M | $335.8M | +15.1% |
Supply gaps
The concentration index helps identify products where reported imports rely more heavily on a smaller supplier base. It is a screening signal, not a recommendation by itself.
| Product | Market size | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Share gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 841191Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers | $365.8M | 1 | 10000 | ARE | 100.0% |
| HS 270799Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar: n.e.s. in heading no. 2707 | $98.6M | 1 | 10000 | IRN | 99.9% |
| HS 271600Electrical energy | $90.7M | 1 | 10000 | UZB | 100.0% |
| HS 310210Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solution | $62.0M | 1 | 10000 | UZB | 100.0% |
| HS 271111Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas | $47.2M | 1 | 10000 | IRN | 100.0% |
| HS 080529Fruit, edible: tangelos, wilkings and similar citrus hybrid, fresh or dried | $29.1M | 1 | 10000 | PAK | 100.0% |
| HS 070190Vegetables: potatoes (other than seed), fresh or chilled | $52.5M | 3 | 10000 | PAK | 100.0% |
| HS 490700Unused postage, revenue or similar stamps of current or new issue in the country in which they have, or will have, a recognised face value: stamp-impressed paper: cheque forms: banknotes, stock, share or bond certificates and the like of similar title | $726.4M | 3 | 9999 | ARE | 100.0% |
Supplier landscape
These supplier names come from the leading peer signal in the screened opportunity rows and should be validated at product level.
ARE
8 screened products
$3.9BCalculated opportunity across these rowsPAK
13 screened products
$1.9BCalculated opportunity across these rowsUZB
6 screened products
$1.4BCalculated opportunity across these rowsCHN
13 screened products
$1.4BCalculated opportunity across these rowsIRN
5 screened products
$587.6MCalculated opportunity across these rowsMYS
1 screened products
$425.9MCalculated opportunity across these rowsIND
2 screened products
$87.6MCalculated opportunity across these rowsBEL
1 screened products
$74.0MCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Definitions and practical guidance for interpreting market size, growth, suppliers, and concentration.
They are product and supplier combinations in Afghanistan's screened import market with substantial reported demand and calculated opportunity indicators. They are research priorities, not guaranteed savings or supply contracts.
The concentration index indicates how much reported imports rely on a smaller supplier base. A high value can suggest supply dependence, but it can also reflect specialized products or limited reporting.
Start with products that fit your specification and volume needs, then validate suppliers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and continuity for Afghanistan.
Data source
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.
