HERAT, Afghanistan – Exports through Herat’s border crossings recorded significant growth during the first two months of the solar Hijri year 1405 (March–May 2026), driven by a surge in agricultural commodities and animal products, the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment (HCCI) reported.
Mohammad Yousuf Amin, Executive Director of the chamber, told Khate-nakhost News Agency that a wide range of products from Herat and other Afghan provinces were shipped to regional and international markets via the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran and the Torghundi crossing with Turkmenistan.
Exports of legumes and pulses reached 1,688 metric tons, valued at $1.48 million, and were shipped to Pakistan, Austria, Germany, Iran, and Iraq. According to the chamber, this represents a 33% increase compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, dried fruit exports totaled 3,140 metric tons, generating $7.61 million in revenue. Major destinations included Jordan, Iran, Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany.
The chamber also reported a sharp rise in animal product exports, which reached 1.28 million pieces, valued at $1.12 million. Export volumes in this category to India, Austria, Turkey, and Lebanon increased approximately sevenfold compared to the corresponding period in 1404.
In the fresh fruit sector, Afghanistan exported 24 metric tons of produce worth $24,000 to India during the months of Hamal and Sawr. Additionally, 19,664 pairs of handicraft products, valued at $45,000, were exported to Iraq.
The chamber noted that the exported goods originated from both Herat and various other provinces, highlighting Herat’s role as a key transit and export hub connecting Afghan producers with international markets.
According to the chamber, all these commodities were officially cleared and exported through the Islam Qala and Torghundi border crossings, which serve as Afghanistan’s vital trade gateways to Iran and Turkmenistan, respectively. This highlights the critical role of these specific ports in facilitating regional trade.
