Pakistan’s Citrus Exports Threatened by Afghan Border Closure

DID Press: Pakistan’s citrus export season has begun under mounting pressure, as the continued closure of its border with Afghanistan — along with disruptions to transit routes toward Central Asia and Russia — threatens a sharp decline in overseas sales of one of the country’s most important agricultural commodities.

Exports of Pakistani citrus, long considered the nation’s top fruit export, have fallen dramatically over the past four years. Revenue has dropped from USD 211 million (558,376 tonnes) in the 2021 fiscal year to just USD 92.52 million (257,300 tonnes) in FY2025.

Since mid-October 2025, border with Afghanistan has remained closed, cutting off access to a market that typically absorbs more than 60 percent of Pakistan’s total citrus exports. In FY2025 alone, Pakistan shipped 153,683 tonnes of citrus to Afghanistan. This dependence on a single market underscores the country’s weak export diversification strategy, particularly given that Afghanistan is the primary buyer of Pakistan’s B- and C-grade citrus — which accounts for over 60–70 percent of total production.

Exports to Russia and Central Asia also rely heavily on transit through Afghanistan. After the closure of this route, exporters pushed for the use of Iranian corridors. However, the State Bank of Pakistan rejected requests for exemptions on banking instruments, citing international sanctions. On 5 December, the Ministry of Commerce granted a one-time exemption for the current export season.

Despite this concession, the Iranian route cannot match the scale of exports destined for Afghanistan and is unlikely to significantly offset Pakistan’s growing citrus surplus.