Pakistan’s sugar exports to Afghanistan have increased nearly 30 times during the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25, according to official figures cited by Pakistani media.
Sugar has become Pakistan’s largest export to its neighbor, with sales reaching $211.8 million from July to December 2024, a dramatic rise compared with $5.9 million during the same period in 2023.
The overall trade relationship between the two countries has also strengthened, with total Pakistani exports to Afghanistan increasing by 52% to $753.8 million, up from $495.2 million in the corresponding period last year, according to ARY News.
The surge in sugar exports follows the Pakistani federal cabinet’s October 2024 decision to approve an additional export of 500,000 metric tons of sugar. The decision significantly boosted trade, with December 2024 alone recording a 103% year-over-year increase in total Pakistani exports to Afghanistan. Exports reached $175.1 million in December 2024, compared with $86 million in December 2023 and $129 million in November 2024, marking a 36% month-over-month increase.
While the rise in Pakistani exports benefits the trade relationship, Afghan traders have raised concerns about what they perceive as biased trade policies. During Afghanistan’s fruit export season, traders have criticized Pakistan for imposing various hurdles that limit the flow of Afghan goods across the border.
