Cotton Exports from Kandahar to Iran Surge After Closure of Pakistan Trade Routes
Officials from the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries have announced that following the closure of Afghanistan’s trade routes with Pakistan, cotton exports from the province to Iran have increased, with 700 tons sent to the country over the past month.
Seyed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries, stated that previously traders heavily relied on the Pakistan route for exporting cotton. However, with those routes now blocked, a private company managed to sign a contract to export 1,000 tons of cotton to the Iranian counterpart. According to him, 700 tons have already been exported, and the transfer of the remainder is planned in the near future.
Amani described this development as an important step towards finding alternative markets for Afghanistan’s agricultural products. He added that efforts are underway to facilitate cotton exports not only to Iran but also to China and Turkey. He emphasized that improving cotton quality is essential before entering these markets to meet international standards.
According to the Chamber head, cotton cultivation in Kandahar has increased compared to the past and is considered a suitable alternative to poppy farming. However, low quality remains the main challenge. He explained that the small size of the cotton boll prevents producing thin and standard yarn.
Amani added that to address this problem, a joint collaboration has started with the National University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kandahar to improve cotton seeds so that in the future, high-quality, exportable cotton can be produced. He noted that if this technical issue is resolved, China and Turkey could also show interest in purchasing Afghan cotton.
The head of the Chamber expressed hope that this technical problem will be resolved by next year or the year after, enabling Afghan cotton to enter global markets.
