KABUL, 13 April 2022, (TON): While majority of the European countries continue to struggle with a rise on fuel prices since beginning of the war in Ukraine, Kabul witnesses a significant hike on its coal exports to the nearby country.

Coal exports to neighboring Pakistan have increased significantly comparing last year amidst a rise in fuel prices in the international market, said the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines.

According to ACIM members “the increase in coal exports to Pakistan is due to a rising coal value in local markets, triggering overwhelming concern for factory owners in the country.”

Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, head of the Chamber of Industries and Mines said “while the increase on coal export seems promising as far as trade is concern, majority predicts an unprecedent price hike within the local market that could cost resident a lot more money than it did a few months ago. “Rising fuel prices in world markets have significantly increased the exports of Afghanistan’s coal to Pakistan in the last three to four months.”

Comparing last year’s average coal price per ton, local business owners called it a significant hike, showing an increase of about 6,000Afs ($67) for the same amount of coal.

Jalil, a local coal seller said “based on the contract, all of Afghanistan’s coal is sent to Pakistan, that is why the coal prices have increased in the country.”