DID Press: Trade in auto parts at the Spin Boldak market in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province has slowed dramatically after the closure of the Pakistan border crossing and disruptions to regional transit routes, leaving one of the country’s largest vehicle parts markets in crisis.
Officials at the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Investment said imports initially shifted to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port after the Spin Boldak crossing was closed due to border tensions with Pakistan. However, the outbreak of regional conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have severely affected that alternative route.
Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the chamber, said the developments have created widespread challenges for Afghan commerce and significantly disrupted imports.
Traders reported that the cost of transporting a single container has risen from around $2,000 to $8,000, while dozens of shipments remain stranded in Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
Asadullah, a trader in the market, said commercial activity has effectively been suspended for several months, with many consignments delayed because of congestion at Jebel Ali Port.
The World Bank warned in May that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to external economic shocks, noting that the country’s import-export gap is projected to reach nearly 70% of GDP in fiscal year 2025.
Another importer, Masoud, said he has not brought in any shipments since the conflict involving Iran began and was forced to return some containers to Japan because of rising storage costs.
The downturn has affected thousands of workers in the Spin Boldak market. Mohammad Naeem, a crane operator, said he may have to leave his job if the situation continues.
Vehicle assembly workshops have also been hit hard. Samiullah, who owns one workshop, said his business previously assembled between five and seven vehicles each week, but operations have now come to a complete halt because new parts are no longer arriving.
Meanwhile, car dealership owner Noor Ali reported a sharp decline in customers and expressed hope that trade would recover once maritime shipping routes return to normal.