Gold, Sugar Prices Rise as Rice Falls in Kabul Market

In the Kabul market this week, prices of gold and Indian sugar rose while the cost of rice from India and Pakistan declined, market sources said.

A 49-kilogram sack of Indian sugar increased from 3,250 afghanis to 3,300 afghanis, according to the head of the Food Traders’ Association.

Prices of rice saw reductions with a 24-kilogram bag of Indian rice falling from 2,800 afghanis to 2,600 afghanis. A 24-kilogram bag of Pakistani rice went down from 3,600 afghanis to 3,500 afghanis.

One gram of Arabian gold rose from 7,900 afghanis to 7,960 afghanis, while Russian gold increased from 6,285 afghanis to 6,330 afghanis. A jeweler linked the gold price changes to international market fluctuations.

The exchange rate for the US dollar rose slightly from 64.60 afghanis to 64.70 afghanis. 1,000 Pakistani rupees remained stable at 220 afghanis, a money exchanger said.

Fuel prices were unchanged with petrol at 68 afghanis per liter and diesel at 64 afghanis per liter. Other food items such as Kazakh flour, cooking oil and tea also saw no change.

Sources noted minor differences between wholesale and retail prices across the markets but the overall situation remained largely stable.