Herat Expands Mineral Stone Exports to U.S., Europe and Asia

The Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines says exports of the province’s mineral stone to the United States, Australia, China, Turkmenistan, Iran, as well as European and Arab countries have increased.

Most recently, a 50-ton shipment of black stone was exported from Herat to the United States.

The Herat Marble Association says improved quality and standardized processing have helped Afghan stone gain access to international markets.

Abdul Nasser Amin, head of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, said: “The quality of stone produced in Herat has improved significantly and is now being exported to various countries. Two days ago, we exported black stone from Ghoryan district to the United States. This stone also has Italian buyers, with orders totaling around 14,000 tons. We also export stone to Turkmenistan, Iran and Arab countries.”

Stone production and processing companies in Herat say the import of modern machinery has significantly improved the quality of locally produced stone.

Mohammad Naeem Sharifi, manager of a stone production company, said: “For the first time, Afghan stone has been exported to the United States. Two truckloads of stone, weighing 50 tons and worth $100,000, were shipped to the U.S.”

Nearly 20 types of stone are extracted from mines in Herat and several other provinces across Afghanistan.

Dawood Sharifi, deputy head of the Herat Marble Association, said: “Afghanistan has a wide variety of stone colors. For example, stone from Helmand comes in five colors, while Herat has up to six different colors. Mines in Herat’s Chesht district produce stone in four colors, and mines in Zendajan district also produce stones in various colors that are supplied to domestic and international markets.”

Some of Afghanistan’s mineral stone is used domestically, but most of it is processed and exported to foreign markets.