In recent years, Iran and Uzbekistan have emerged as two of Afghanistan’s main trading partners amid disruptions in Afghanistan’s trade relations with Pakistan, TOLOnews reported.
According to available data, Afghanistan’s annual trade volume with Iran has reached $3.3 billion, while trade with Uzbekistan has risen to $1.7 billion.
Iran is one of Afghanistan’s principal suppliers of food products, fuel, and essential commodities, while Uzbekistan is among the country’s key partners in the energy sector, food supplies, and transit.
Following disruptions in Afghanistan’s trade with Pakistan after the closure of shared border crossings in September–October 2025, part of Afghanistan’s trade shifted to alternative routes, including Iran and Uzbekistan.
However, Mahmoud Siadat, head of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Iran did not fully capitalize on this opportunity, whereas Uzbekistan managed to increase its exports to Afghanistan by 41 percent within a year.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) says expanding trade relations with Iran and Uzbekistan has created a valuable opportunity to diversify the country’s transit routes.
