Russia Looking To Develop Agricultural Trade With Afghanistan

Russia’s Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut has been discussing cooperation in the agricultural sector with Mawlavi Ataullah Omari. Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.

Lut stated that “In recent years, agricultural trade between Russia and Afghanistan has been growing. Russian exports form the basis of this mutual trade—flour, sunflower oil, and sugar are supplied to the Afghan market. For its part, Russia mainly imports raisins and almonds.”

Russia and Afghanistan’s bilateral trade is growing, with Russia exporting goods like oil and gas. Afghanistan sends dried fruits and, more recently, fresh produce such as apples. Russia has set ambitious goals for increasing trade, with plans to potentially reach US$3 billion by 2025 US$10 billion by 2030, driven by a new focus on economic and energy cooperation following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces and the lifting of the Taliban’s terrorist designation. Negotiations are also underway to allow direct trade transactions in local currencies to bypass the U.S. dollar.

Bilateral trade has increased significantly, with some reports estimating a jump from approximately US$170 million in 2022 to over US$1 billion in 2024. Recent official figures show exports from Russia to Afghanistan reaching just under US$10 million a month in H1 2025.

Most bilateral trade is conducted via Turkmenistan and Iran and the Middle East and transits via the Middle Corridor over the Caspian Sea to and from Astrakhan.