Government change in Afghanistan and decreased purchasing power of the Afghan people have led to a fall in Iran’s exports to the neighboring country, according to Ruhollah Latifi, the spokesman of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).
Latifi said that Iran exported some 4.187 million tons of goods worth $1.839 billion to Afghanistan in the one-year period which showed a 40% decrease in terms of weight and a 20% fall in value terms compared to figures from the preceding year.
He noted that decreased Iranian exports to Afghanistan was natural as the country underwent a special political change last year.
“The first point is that we witnessed crises in the country near the Iranian border…and the other point was that many projects being implemented by state or international funds were even stopped or changed,” Latifi said.
The map shows joint border crossings between Iran and Afghanistan.
He added that instability and doubts about the political future of Afghanistan caused a reduction in construction projects in Afghanistan and a subsequent fall in the exports of construction materials to the country.
Referring to the reduction of exports of some other items to Afghanistan, the official said that changes in revenue resources of the Afghan people have caused changes in the priorities of the Afghan people and a decrease in their purchasing power.
He noted that decreased purchasing power of the Afghan people would led to a fall in exports of non-essential items from Iran or any other country to Afghanistan.