Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried common bean in Afghanistan is a staple pulse consumed domestically, supplied through a combination of domestic production and imports routed through neighboring transit corridors. Market access and continuity are highly sensitive to sanctions-compliance, banking/payment constraints, and cross-border security and logistics disruptions.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market with domestic production (net importer in deficit years)
Domestic RoleHousehold staple pulse for domestic consumption; traded through wholesale and traditional retail channels
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
Specification
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Import arrival at border/transit corridor → customs clearance → wholesale distribution → retail markets and foodservice
- Domestic aggregation (where produced) → local traders/wholesalers → retail markets
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is primarily limited by moisture uptake, insect infestation risk, and storage hygiene rather than temperature
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Sanctions and Banking HighSanctions exposure and financial-sector de-risking can block payments, trade finance, insurance, and logistics contracting for Afghanistan-linked transactions, causing shipments to be delayed, canceled, or refused by service providers even when food is not itself sanctioned.Conduct strict sanctions screening on all counterparties/beneficial owners; confirm payment routes and trade-finance feasibility before contracting; use reputable compliance counsel and banks with documented Afghanistan policies.
Logistics MediumCross-border disruptions (security incidents, sudden policy changes, corridor congestion) can delay trucking and multimodal flows into Afghanistan, increasing demurrage/storage costs and creating intermittent market shortages.Diversify corridor options where feasible; build buffer stocks and stagger shipments; align documentation and pre-clearance practices with the customs broker’s checklist.
Climate MediumDrought shocks can reduce domestic pulse supply and increase reliance on imports, amplifying price volatility and procurement uncertainty for buyers.Use multi-origin sourcing strategies and contract flexibility; monitor seasonal outlooks and humanitarian/market updates for early warning.
Sustainability- Drought and water scarcity affecting domestic pulse output and local price volatility
- Climate variability increasing production uncertainty
Labor & Social- Heightened sanctions-compliance and counterparty due diligence expectations for Afghanistan-linked trade (risk of inadvertent dealings with designated persons/entities)
- Security risks for transport workers and supply-chain operations on key corridors
Sources
FAO (FAOSTAT) — FAOSTAT — Crops and livestock products (Afghanistan pulses/beans indicators)
UN Comtrade — UN Comtrade Database — Afghanistan import statistics for dried legumes/beans (HS trade data reference)
International Trade Centre (ITC) — Trade Map — ITC Trade Map — Afghanistan trade flows and partner structure (beans/legumes category reference)
U.S. Department of the Treasury — Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) — Afghanistan-related sanctions and compliance guidance (payment/financial services constraints context)
UN OCHA — Afghanistan situation and access updates (logistics/access disruption context)