# Afghanistan Export Playbook for Middle East

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> Yugalinks regional export playbook

Compare buyer markets, access conditions, and calculated product opportunities in Middle East. Use this guide to prioritize research, not to treat calculated indicators as guaranteed sales.

## Navigation

- [Yugalinks home](https://www.yugalinks.com/)
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- [Open country workspace](https://www.yugalinks.com/app/countries)
- [Data sources](https://www.yugalinks.com/data-sources)
- [Methodology](https://www.yugalinks.com/methodology)

## Overview

- Exporter: Afghanistan (AFG)
- Region: Middle East
- Latest trade year: 2024
- Buyer markets: 7
- Calculated three-year opportunity: $137.2B
- Reported FTA markets: 0
- Average reported distance: 2,415 km
- Average business entry indicator: 22 days

## Market comparison

| Market | ISO3 | Opportunity | Products | FTA | Distance | Entry days | Top product |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | ---: | ---: | --- |
| United Arab Emirates | ARE | $84.3B | 24 | Not reported | 1,814 km | 4 | Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks |
| Turkey | TUR | $37.6B | 16 | Not reported | 3,582 km | 7 | Product not reported |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | IRN | $9.2B | 5 | Not reported | 1,621 km | 73 | Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers |
| Saudi Arabia | SAU | $2.3B | 2 | Not reported | 2,425 km | 10 | Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed |
| Kuwait | KWT | $2.2B | 2 | Not reported | 2,080 km | 19 | Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof |
| Iraq | IRQ | $1.1B | 2 | Not reported | 2,285 km | 27 | Commodities not specified according to kind |
| Jordan | JOR | $454.9M | 1 | Not reported | 3,096 km | 13 | Commodities not specified according to kind |

## Product and market opportunities

| Rank | Market | Product | Opportunity | Buyer growth | Current share |
| ---: | --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 851712 - Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $27.3B | +20.6% | +0.0% |
| 2 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 271019 - Product description unavailable | $23.6B | +16.7% | +0.0% |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 710812 - Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) | $20.3B | +43.7% | +0.0% |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 711319 - Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof | $6.9B | +11.6% | +0.0% |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 271012 - Product description unavailable | $6.2B | +16.6% | +0.0% |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 847130 - Data processing machines: portable, digital and automatic, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display | $6.1B | +16.2% | +0.0% |
| 7 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) (IRN) | HS 841191 - Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers | $3.7B | +28.7% | +0.0% |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 870323 - Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity exceeding 1500cc but not exceeding 3000cc | $3.6B | +11.7% | +0.0% |
| 9 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 870380 - Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion | $2.3B | +54.1% | +0.0% |
| 10 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 870322 - Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc | $2.1B | +15.3% | +0.0% |
| 11 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 271019 - Product description unavailable | $2.1B | +12.5% | +0.0% |
| 12 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) (IRN) | HS 100590 - Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed | $2.1B | +12.5% | +0.0% |
| 13 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 710813 - Metals: gold, semi-manufactured | $1.9B | +25.7% | +0.0% |
| 14 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) (IRN) | HS 851712 - Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $1.8B | +10.0% | +0.0% |
| 15 | Saudi Arabia (SAU) | HS 100630 - Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed | $1.7B | +6.9% | +0.0% |
| 16 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 870331 - Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity not exceeding 1500cc | $1.5B | +39.1% | +0.0% |
| 17 | Kuwait (KWT) | HS 711319 - Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof | $1.2B | +8.8% | +0.0% |
| 18 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 870321 - Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not exceeding 1000cc | $1.2B | +27.6% | +0.0% |
| 19 | Turkey (TUR) | HS 851762 - Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus | $1.2B | +12.3% | +0.0% |
| 20 | United Arab Emirates (ARE) | HS 321590 - Ink: writing, drawing and other inks, n.e.c. in heading no. 3215, whether or not concentrated or solid | $1.1B | +20.5% | +0.0% |

## Sector opportunities

| Sector | Products | Reported buyer imports | Opportunity | Average growth |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| HS2 85 - HS2 sector 85 | 8 | $35.7B | $33.3B | +13.5% |
| HS2 00 - HS2 sector 00 | 3 | $43.3B | $31.9B | +15.2% |
| HS2 71 - HS2 sector 71 | 6 | $101.0B | $31.8B | +22.9% |
| HS2 87 - HS2 sector 87 | 11 | $29.6B | $14.5B | +19.4% |
| HS2 84 - HS2 sector 84 | 5 | $9.4B | $11.6B | +14.3% |
| HS2 10 - HS2 sector 10 | 5 | $8.0B | $6.1B | +8.0% |
| HS2 32 - HS2 sector 32 | 1 | $674.3M | $1.1B | +20.5% |
| HS2 99 - HS2 sector 99 | 2 | $662.8M | $1.0B | +25.4% |

## Frequently asked questions

### Should Afghanistan focus on Middle East?

Use the market ranking as a starting point, then check product fit, buyer requirements, route costs, tariffs, standards, and competitive conditions.

### What does calculated opportunity mean?

It is a screening indicator built from demand and exporter-position signals. It is not a confirmed order, sales forecast, or guarantee of market entry.

### How should exporters use this page?

Prioritize one market and product combination, then validate buyers, compliance, logistics, pricing, and continuity before making a commercial decision.

## Method

Reported trade observations and calculated indicators are shown separately. Validate buyers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and competition before acting.

Yugalinks presents derived views for research and planning. [Read the full methodology](https://www.yugalinks.com/methodology).

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.