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Figures released this week by Afghanistan's Central Statistics Organisation (CSO) indicate that the country's annual trade deficit is headed for its foZaburth consecutive increase.
Afghanistan's exports fell for the first nine months of solar year 1391 (Mar 2012-Dec 2012) compared to the previous corresponding period, the CSO said Tuesday.
The trade deficit for the first three quarters of 1391 is already greater than the deficit for the year 1390 (Mar 2011-Mar 2012).
Imports in the first nine months of 1391 grew to US$6.42 billion as the exports dropped to US$261 million – some US$114 million less than the total for 1390.
"In 1388 (Mar 2009-Mar 2010), we had a trade deficit of 89 percent, which reached 93 percent in 1389, 94.4 percent in 1390, and was 96 percent in the first nine months of 1391," CSO deputy Haseebullah Mowahid said Tuesday.
"This means that 96 percent of goods are being imported from outside the country and we only export four percent," he added.
Afghanistan's export and import figures for the past three years are US$403 million and US$3.34 billion respectively for 1388, US$388 million and US$5.15 billion for 1389, and US$375 million and US$6.39 billion for 1390.
Some of the reasons cited for the burgeoning deficit include lack of government support for domestic production, lack of insurance, failure to standardise packaging for Afghan goods, as well as stiff rules and inconsideration towards marketing.