Afghanistan became the largest importer of Russian flour last year by doubling its purchases, Russia’s national agricultural export agency, Agroexport, said late Friday.
Afghanistan imports flour because it does not have sufficient production capacity to meet domestic demand.
The increase in imports came as Russia sought to strengthen ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.
Last month, Moscow took a step closer to recognizing the Taliban government, with the Russian parliament voting in favor of a law that would remove the movement from the list of banned terrorist organizations.
Agroexport, citing preliminary estimates, said Afghanistan purchased Russian flour worth almost $80 million last year, double the level expected for 2023.
Russia’s total exports of wheat and wheat and rye flour reached $300 million last year, an increase of 3% in value and 7% in volume compared to the previous year, according to the supervisory body.
China and Turkmenistan are also among the three main buyers of Russian flour.
