Afghanistan’s Pine Nut Exports Rise by 25% in 2025

Pine nuts are among Afghanistan’s key export products and are primarily produced in mountainous and arid regions, particularly in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports that the country’s pine nut exports reached $15 million in 2025, marking a 25 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said: “In 2025, Afghanistan’s black pine nuts were exported to China, India, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, Kuwait, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. A total of 1,031 tons were exported, valued at more than $15 million.”

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Dry Fruit Association attributes the increase in exports to improved marketing efforts, better access to regional markets, and rising demand in global markets.

According to officials of the association, attention to quality, standardized packaging, and facilitation of export procedures have been key factors behind the growth in pine nut exports.

Ahmad Khali Rahmani, spokesperson for the Kabul Dry Fruit Exporters Association, said: “We hope that at the beginning of next year, with the launch of export zones and exporting companies in the capital and provinces, along with the resolution of banking challenges, issuance of visas for traders, and reduction of transportation costs, pine nut exports will further increase.”

Mahboobullah Mohammadi, a trader, said: “In our repeated meetings with government officials and institutions, we have emphasized the establishment of a regular agricultural cargo system. By creating such a system and setting standardized transportation prices, we can have an alternative option until currently closed trade routes are reopened.”

Economic analysts also believe that increasing agricultural exports, particularly pine nuts, can play a significant role in improving the country’s economic situation and boosting revenues.

They stress that to sustain this trend, existing challenges in transportation, banking, storage, and access to global markets must be seriously addressed.