Market research

Cotton seeds market in Afghanistan

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, cotton seed production in Afghanistan showed consistent growth, rising from 37 342 t to 50 500 t. This expansion was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture's promotion of improved seed varieties and mechanization efforts, which enhanced yields. Further momentum came from increased government focus on the agricultural sector, including the establishment of air corridors to facilitate exports and plans to introduce water-efficient drip irrigation systems.

Production dipped to 47 120 t in 2022, influenced by a prevalent reliance on traditional farming methods and broader economic challenges such as rising poverty and unemployment, which constrained investment in modern practices. During this period, the state-owned company Spin Zar remained a notable participant in the market.

A sharp rebound occurred in 2023, with output surging to 79 595 t. This 69% increase was primarily driven by enhanced export opportunities, notably the creation of a common market with Uzbekistan and the development of new trade and transit routes, which incentivized farmers to expand cultivation.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Afghanistan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Afghanistan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cotton seeds in Afghanistan

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Afghanistan's cotton seed production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 48 140 tonnes of cotton seeds, marking a slight increase of 1.3% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production surged by 101.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 26.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	56.2%	27.3%	1.3%	26.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cotton seeds from Afghanistan

Exports in kind, t

In 2019, Afghanistan exported 686.3 tonnes of cotton seeds, which represents a dramatic increase of 453.2% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	453.2%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Iran was the primary and nearly exclusive market for Afghanistan's cotton seed exports, accounting for 100.0% of the total volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Afghanistan's cotton seed exports reached a value of 874.9 thousand US dollars in 2019, showing a sharp year-on-year rise of 510.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	510.7%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the value of cotton seed exports from Afghanistan was heavily concentrated on Iran, which made up 100.0% of the total.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cotton seeds to Afghanistan

Imports in kind, t

Afghanistan's cotton seed imports have fallen for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports totaled 18.0 tonnes, reflecting a significant drop of 74.5% compared to 2018. Over the period from 2017 to 2019, imports plummeted by 90.1%, with an average annual decline of 53.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(61.1%)	(74.5%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Kazakhstan was the overwhelmingly dominant market for cotton seed imports into Afghanistan, accounting for 94.7% of the total volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Afghanistan's cotton seed imports have decreased for the second year in a row. In 2019, the country imported cotton seeds worth {value_last_year} thousand US dollars, representing a steep decline of 79.2% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2019, imports fell by 91.4%, with an average annual decrease of 55.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(58.9%)	(79.2%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Kazakhstan accounted for 73.9% of the total value of cotton seed imports into Afghanistan, while the remaining share was distributed among several other countries with smaller individual contributions.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io