Trade Through Hairatan Port Rises After Closure of Pakistan Routes

Trade through Hairatan Port has increased following the closure of key trade routes with Pakistan, officials say.

Authorities said that over the past three months, 985,000 tons of imports and 62,000 tons of exports have passed through the port. Compared with the second quarter of the current year, imports increased by 62 percent and exports by 40 percent.

Bismillah Mazari, head of the Astraas Company, said: “In the second quarter, our imports stood at 611,000 tons and exports at 44,000 tons. In the third quarter, imports reached 985,000 tons and exports increased to 62,000 tons.”

Officials also said that the transportation process has become faster with the addition of unloading equipment and more workers, allowing trade activities to continue without interruption.

Mazari added: “Companies are working around the clock, both day and night.”

Meanwhile, some traders see Central Asia as a reliable alternative route for Afghanistan’s trade and are calling for more facilities to be developed at Hairatan Port.

Another trader, Mustafa Momand, said: “Through Uzbekistan’s ports, Afghan goods are transported to Europe. Uzbekistan has good relations with us and has committed to allowing Afghan goods to reach Europe via this route.”

Economic analysts say Hairatan Port is playing a key role in maintaining Afghanistan’s trade under the current conditions.

Economic analyst Qutbuddin Yaqoobi said: “In my view, this port can partially solve Afghanistan’s trade and transit challenges and can play an important role under the current circumstances.”

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Afghanistan’s total trade volume reached nearly $13 billion in 2025.