The Ministry of Industry and Commerce have announced that exports of Afghan pine nuts have increased recently.

Officials in the ministry say that in the last eight months, more than 5,000 tons of pine nuts worth $14 million have been exported to the United Arab Emirates, China, Qatar, UK, USA, Australia, Netherlands and other countries.

“In the last eight months, pine nuts exports worth approximately 14 million dollars were exported mainly to China, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, US, UK, Australia, Netherlands and other countries,” said Abdulsalam Jawad Akhundzada, the spokesman of the ministry.

“Although it was the best in terms of price and quality, but most of last year’s pine nuts still remain in the markets, which should be exported to Arab countries and US through international expos, and must be supported by subsidy programs by the government to other domestic factories and should be regulated,” said Mahboobullah Mohammadi, an investor.

Meanwhile, officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock also say that they are trying to increase the production of pine nuts in the country. The ministry’s spokesman adds that pine nuts are produced in a traditional way, and they have managed this process properly and prevented waste.

“Pine nuts are in the natural forests, and in the forests where there are pine nuts, we have tried to increase the yield of pine nuts,” said Misbahuddin Mustain, the spokesman of the ministry.

Experts say that the government should pay more attention to the production and export of pine nuts and introduce this product in global markets.

Afghan pine nuts enjoys a special reputation. In the past years, the product used to be exported to global markets through air corridors, but now that the air corridors are not fully operational, a small amount of pine nuts is exported outside the country.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Afghanistan exported goods worth nearly $2 billion to regional countries and beyond during the year 2023.

Its spokesman stated on Monday that Afghanistan’s exports were mainly to countries such as Pakistan, India, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

He mentioned that Afghanistan’s exports this year have increased by two percent compared to previous years and emphasized the need for world’s restrictions to be lifted for the development of Afghanistan’s trade.