KABUL, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan shipped exported products worth 1.81 billion U.S. dollars in the past 12 months, or the Persian calendar year 1402, down by 6 percent year on year, Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesman of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said on Thursday.
A significant decline in coal exports to neighboring countries was the main reason for the decrease, Jawad said.
Cotton, dry fruits, herbs, onions, grapes, apples, saffron, pomegranates and tomatoes were the most important items Afghanistan exports to its trade partners, including Pakistan, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and China, over the 12-month period, the spokesman stated.
The year of 1403 in the Persian calendar in Afghanistan started on March 20. ■
