Iran’s trade with Afghanistan (non-oil exports plus imports) stood at 3,405 tons worth $1.66 billion in the fiscal 2022-23 (ended March 20), registering a 10% fall in terms of value compared with $1.85 billion in the year before, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Iran registered a trade surplus of $1.6 billion with the neighboring country during the period, IRIB News reported.
The main exported goods include light oils and products, except gasoline, oil and other products obtained from the distillation of coal tar at high temperature, other unspecified products containing 70% or more by weight of petroleum or bituminous mineral oils, liquefied natural gas, flooring, fresh apple, tomatoes, mineral oil and gasoline.
The above-mentioned goods accounted for 36% of the weight and 39% of the value of the total exports to Afghanistan during the year.
The report noted that most of the goods exported to Afghanistan from Iran are petroleum-based and petrochemical-based products.
Processed lead, sunflower seeds, plants and herbs used in perfumery and pharmaceuticals were the top imported products from Afghanistan during the period, accounting for 39% of the total import’s value.
Other imported goods include sesame seeds, mung beans, pinto beans, thread, pepper, cotton and fennel seeds.
Iran and Afghanistan have 815 kilometers of common border.
Afghanistan has always been one of Iran's most important neighbors due to its geographical location and diplomatic relations between the two sides. Therefore, provinces that have a common border with this country play a key role in bilateral trade. These provinces include Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan and Sistan-Baluchestan.
Joint Chamber of Commerce
Officials of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment have said that a joint chamber of commerce will be formed in the new solar year that started on March 21.
The Iran-Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce is aiming to boost commerce between the two neighboring countries, ACCI said.
"The executive board of ACCI decided to establish a joint chamber of commerce. A commission has been formed and it is working on the draft. It is almost completed. We proposed a temporary board," said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the ACCI board.
"With the launch of this chamber, trade and economic activities will increase. Traders from your country [Afghanistan] and our traders will be engaged in face-to-face talks, which will increase the level of cooperation," said Taqwa Minsion, a university instructor in Iran.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy said that the formation of the joint chamber will boost economic development.
"The formation of a joint chamber of Afghanistan and Iran will benefit the growth of the country’s economy, and efforts will be made to improve the economic relations of Afghanistan with neighboring countries," said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy economy minister.
"If the chambers are managed to both attract foreign investment and produce products and export them, the increase of exports and attraction of investments will solve two major issues, which are poverty and unemployment," said Abdul Naseer Rishtia, an economist.
Afghanistan currently has joint chambers of commerce with Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
