Afghanistan’s Fuel Imports from Russia Rise by 20% in 2025

According to reports by Russian media outlets, Afghanistan witnessed a significant increase in petroleum product imports from Russia in 2025.

The reports indicate that Afghanistan’s oil imports from Russia rose by nearly 20 percent over the past year.

This growth occurred within the broader framework of an overall increase in Russian petroleum product exports to Central Asia and Afghanistan, which in total rose by 15.5 percent.

Sir Quraishi, an economic analyst, said in this regard: “This change indicates that energy cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia has expanded, and Russia has further increased its focus on energy exports. For Afghanistan, this development could help ensure a steady supply of fuel and contribute to price stability in the markets.”

According to these media reports, despite increased imports during most months of the year, restrictions were imposed on Russian oil exports to Afghanistan starting in September 2025.

At the same time, amid rising fuel prices in the region, the situation created an opportunity for Belarusian petroleum products to enter the Afghan market. In 2025, approximately 400,000 tons of oil were exported transit to Afghanistan.

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, another economic expert, said: “Russia is among the countries rich in oil and gas resources, and Afghanistan is in great need of importing petroleum products from Russia. Currently, Russia is interested in strengthening its trade and political relations with Afghanistan in order to gain access to South Asian markets.”

However, some analysts believe that increasing fuel imports from various countries could protect Afghanistan’s fuel market from severe fluctuations and prevent sudden price hikes.

They emphasize that under current conditions, Afghanistan must pay greater attention to its domestic capacities and, in the long term, strive to meet part of its market demand through internal resources.

Mohammad Tawous Farzad, another economic analyst, stressed: “After the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was recognized by Russia, both countries are now working to strengthen their relations. They aim to expand exports and imports across various sectors, including oil and gas, which has recently seen an increase.”

Reports indicate that Afghanistan is considered one of the growing markets for Russian petroleum products in the region, and the 20 percent rise in imports demonstrates that the country continues to rely on Russian supply sources.