Sugar dominates exports to Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Exports of sugar to Afghanistan dominated all commodities after the federal government allowed its export. In the first half of the current fiscal year, the export of sugar to Afghanistan reached $218 million after an extraordinary increase compared to last year.

Along with the extraordinary increase in sugar exports, there was also a big increase in total exports to Afghanistan. In December, exports to Afghanistan increased by 103pc year-on-year and by 36pc month-on-month, while exports to Afghanistan increased by 52pc between July and December. According to government sources, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan from July to December 2024 were $753.8 million and last year’s exports to Afghanistan were $495.2 million in the same period.

In December 2024, the volume of Pakistani exports to Afghanistan was $175.1 million, and in December 2023, the volume was $86 million, while in November 2024, the volume of exports was $129 c million. From July to December 2024, the export of sugar to Afghanistan was $211.8 million and last year in the same period, the export of sugar to Afghanistan was $590 million.

The federal cabinet has given permission to export a total of 750,000 metric tons of sugar since June 2024.