New Delhi (PTI): India’s sugar export to Afghanistan has almost come to a halt with Indian merchants reporting cancellation of orders in the wake of the current situation there, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
The Taliban ousted the government in Afghanistan and took over the control of the country after capturing Kabul last month.
Afghanistan is one of the top three destinations for Indian sugar exports. About 6,00,000-7,00,000 tonne of the sweetener is exported annually.
About 6,50,000 tonne of sugar has already been exported so far in the current 2020-21 season ending this month, as per the trade data. Sugar season runs from October to September.
“Our sugar export to Afghanistan has been affected now because of the prevailing current situation out there. Some orders have been cancelled,” Joint Secretary in the Food Ministry Subodh Kumar Singh told PTI.
However, sugar exports to Afghanistan should resume in the next season after the normalcy is restored under the new regime, he said.
Currently, there is no change in the India-Afghanistan trade policy unlike Pakistan which has decided not to buy sugar from India.