Pine nuts are considered one of Afghanistan's major export commodities and are annually exported to regional and international markets.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that in the first eight months of the current solar year, 645 tons of pine nuts valued at nearly $9 million were exported abroad.
According to Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, "Afghanistan's black pine nuts have been exported over the past eight months of 1404 [solar year] to countries including China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Kuwait, and others."
Afghan pine nuts, known for their high quality, are in strong demand in multiple countries, especially China.
Some traders say that if exports are facilitated through more air corridors and transportation costs are reduced, the volume of pine nut exports could significantly increase.
Mahboobullah Mohammadi, one of the traders, stated: "Challenges still persist, including the lack of international trade exhibitions in most countries, the absence of Afghanistan's product listings in global digital B2B platforms, and the continued export of raw products, particularly to China."
Azarakhsh Hafizi, former head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, emphasized: "Pine nuts are a major dry fruit export item, and their prices in international markets are high. Although prices weren't great this year, it's still worth exporting them through air corridors."
In Afghanistan, pine nuts are primarily harvested in the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunduz, and some mountainous areas in the northeast.