Afghanistan is one of the world's largest producers of raisins, pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, and dried apricots. Kandahar's raisins, Badakhshan's apricots, and Paktia's pine nuts are sold worldwide — and you can buy them at source.
Plan a Sourcing TripAfghanistan's diverse geography produces a wide range of high-quality dried produce. Here's a breakdown of key products, origins, and wholesale price ranges.
| Product | Origin Region | Wholesale Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Raisins (Kishmish) | Kandahar | $1.50–$3.00/kg | Most prized. Seedless. Sun-dried. Huge export volume. |
| Black Raisins | Kandahar, Herat | $0.80–$1.80/kg | Shade-dried. Distinct flavour. Popular in South Asian markets. |
| Dried Apricots | Badakhshan, Takhar | $1.50–$4.00/kg | Wild apricots and cultivated varieties. High demand in Europe. |
| Pistachios | Badghis, Herat | $5–$12/kg | Wild pistachios (qalqan) and cultivated. Nutty, distinct flavour. |
| Pine Nuts (Chilgoza) | Paktia, Khost, Kunar | $8–$20/kg | Long pine nuts. Prized in Italy and Middle East. Premium product. |
| Almonds | Baghlan, Kunduz | $2–$5/kg | Thin-shelled, sweet variety. Good quality. Large export volumes. |
| Dried Figs | Kandahar | $1.50–$3.50/kg | Sweet, small-seeded variety. Limited export infrastructure — niche opportunity. |
Kabul's wholesale district aggregates produce from all over Afghanistan. A single visit gives access to multiple provinces' produce without leaving the capital.
Afghanistan's largest wholesale bazaar. Hundreds of traders dealing in raisins, nuts, dried fruits, spices, and more. This is where to start any dried fruit sourcing trip. Prices are negotiable; quantities start at 50 kg.
For raisins and pomegranate products (incl. dried pomegranate arils), visiting Kandahar gives you direct access to producer-level prices — 10–20% below what Kabul re-sellers charge. Day trip or overnight from Kabul by domestic flight.
Afghanistan's pine nut (chilgoza) producing region. If pine nuts are your primary interest, visiting Paktia during harvest (September–October) lets you meet forest collectors and eliminate the Kabul middleman layer entirely.
Key exports: raisins (green, black, golden — Kandahar is a world-leading producer), dried apricots (Badakhshan, Takhar), figs (Kandahar), pistachios (Badghis, Herat), pine nuts/chilgoza (Paktia, Khost, Kunar), almonds (Baghlan, Kunduz), and walnuts (Nuristan, Kunar).
Wholesale prices range from $0.80–$3.00/kg depending on variety. Green kishmish raisins from Kandahar are most in-demand at $1.50–$3.00/kg — compare to $4–$8/kg in European wholesale markets. Minimum orders from wholesalers are typically 100–500 kg.
Kabul's Mandawi market is the country's largest wholesale hub. For Kandahar-origin raisins, visiting Kandahar's wholesale bazaar gives direct producer access. Go Kabul arranges visits to both depending on your category focus.
Kabul market traders often start at 50 kg for raisins and nuts, with better prices at 500 kg+. Large exporters (who handle international shipping) typically require 1–5 metric ton minimum orders. We'll match you with suppliers that fit your volume requirements.
Tell us which products and quantities you're looking for and we'll design a market itinerary around your needs.