{"id":409571,"date":"2026-04-20T21:34:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T11:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=70695"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T11:34:58","slug":"afghan-rail-imports-are-booming-but-transit-is-still-barely-a-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=409571","title":{"rendered":"Afghan rail imports are booming, but transit is still barely a thing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The volume of rail freight in Afghanistan between March 2025 and March 2026 (the Afghan solar year of 1404) has grown by 39.1%. This figure reflects growing trade via the railways, since all functional rail infrastructure links up to international borders. Despite the international interest in trans-Afghanistan transportation, transit remains on the margins.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>In total, the Afghan railways moved 6,119,497 tonnes of goods, according to the country\u2019s Ministry of Public Works. All of this freight moved through three terminals: Hairatan (which connects to Uzbekistan), Aqina and Torghundi (on the border with Turkmenistan), as well as on the Khaf-Herat railway to Iran. The Hairatan terminal clearly spearheads operations with 4.2 million tonnes of freight processed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn [the solar year] 1404, 103,944 wagons and 4,636 40-foot containers of commercial goods were transported. Imported goods included oil, liquefied gas, wheat, flour, cooking oil, cement, ceramic tiles, sugar, plastic, paper, glue, cream, and other food and construction materials\u201d, the Afghan ministry elaborated.<\/p>\n

Exports and transit goods only made up a tiny fraction of the 6 million tonnes: the railways exported 74,752 tonnes of commercial goods. These exports primarily consisted of dried fruits, rice, potatoes, minerals, watermelon seeds, chickpeas, copper, and pomegranate juice concentrate.<\/p>\n

The Public Works ministry attributes the 40% volume surge to planning efforts, monitoring, infrastructure development and efforts by technical and administrative staff. The result of these efforts has evidently materialised in the form of increased imports.<\/p>\n

One such effort is an upgrade on the Torghundi terminal<\/strong>. Afghanistan is working to expand it, likely with funding from Turkmenistan.<\/p>\n