KABUL (Pajhwok): Pajhwok findings show that compared to the beginning of the current solar year 1404, fuel prices in the global market have decreased by five percent, but in Afghanistan they have jumped 22 percent despite the afghani rising by 4.6 percent against the US dollar.

Some analysts say that fuel prices have increased in Afghanistan because currently only high-quality fuel-which also has a high price in global markets-is being imported.

According to the new standard, the import of low-quality fuel is not allowed. Additionally, due to the reconstruction of the Salang highway, large fuel trucks have not been able to travel this route for about five months.

The deputy of the Herat Oil and Gas Association makes similar remarks but adds that Afghan traders' shipments of“ample” high-quality fuel from Russia are on the way and, once they arrive, markets will normalize within a few days.

Full Report

Pajhwok Afghan News compared the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil in dollars, the price of one liter of petrol and one liter of diesel in afghanis, and the value of the afghani against the dollar from the March 3, 2025 to September 29, 2025.

Pajhwok obtained information on fuel prices in Afghanistan and the value of the afghani from its weekly reports, and global fuel prices from the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Table of prices:

The prices of oil fluctuated over the past six months.

According to the table, from March 21 to May 2 of the current year, global market prices fell day by day, but in Afghanistan, there was no noticeable change in the average prices of petrol and diesel.

From May 9 to May 23, oil prices in the global market rose slightly, while in Afghanistan, they decreased slightly.

Similarly, from July 11 to September 12, oil prices in the global market mostly declined, but in Afghanistan, they increased day by day.

During this period, the average prices of petrol and diesel in Afghanistan rose by more than 16%, while in the global market, they fell by nearly 6%.

It should be noted that on September 26, global market prices increased and then fell again on September 29, but in Afghanistan, prices continued to rise during this period.

Findings show that from June 22 up to August 28 , the exchange rate of the afghani against the dollar rose from nearly 69 to 73 afghanis, and after that, it has continued to increase, reaching nearly 67 by September 30.

However, the figures in the above table indicate that compared to the beginning of the year 1404, oil prices in the global market fell by 5%, while in Afghanistan, they increased by 22%, even though the value of the afghani against the dollar also increased by 4.6%.

“Now high-quality fuel is being imported - it's expensive worldwide as well.”

Economic affairs analyst and member of the board of directors at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Khan Jan Alokozai, says:“The reality is that fuel prices in the market have gone up, but according to the fuel union and the officials we've spoken with, the fuel that is standard and allowed to be imported into Afghanistan is new, high-quality fuel - and it has also become more expensive globally.”

He adds:“The important thing is that the standard set by the Islamic Emirate is a very good and high standard - meaning these are super, clean, and pure fuels, and they are also expensive worldwide. Compared to other fuels, they cost about ten afghanis more per liter, and that's had a significant impact.”

According to him, fuel prices in Afghanistan used to be lower because low-quality fuels were imported and mixed with higher-quality ones, but now the import of such low-quality fuels has been stopped.

Alokozai says: Now, only 92-octane fuel - which is very good quality - is allowed, and others are not. The import of 93-octane and 05 fuels has been completely banned, and many tankers have been stopped. This is a major reason why fuel prices in the market have increased.”

The Ministry of Finance announced on Saturday that the Department of Petroleum Products Quality and Inspection had, over the past three months, returned 424 tankers of low-quality fuel from several border customs points.

Likewise, Alokozai added that reconstruction work on the Salang Highway is ongoing, and as a result, heavy trucks have been banned from traveling on this route, which has increased transport costs and affected fuel prices.

According to Qari Mohammad Omar Farooq, the district governor of Salang district in Parwan province, heavy trucks have not been allowed to travel on the Salang route for about five months because of the ongoing reconstruction work.

Meanwhile, Abdul Wadood Azizi, deputy head of the Herat Oil and Gas Association, also commented on the rise in fuel prices:“In the past, the fuel imported into Afghanistan was of very low quality. Now, the Islamic Emirate has set a new standard requiring the import of diesel types 0.2 and 0.1, and petrol types 98, 92, and 95. These are scarce in Iran at the moment, so there isn't enough supply for import into Afghanistan.”

He said that this new standard has been implemented for about a month.

He explained that Russia and Turkmenistan have a good supply of such [high-standard] oil, and Afghan traders import it. Since the war between Ukraine and Russia is ongoing, and Ukraine has targeted oil refineries in Russia and halted shipments, fuel prices in Afghanistan have risen and supply has decreased.“Otherwise, God willing, there is no other problem,” he added.

He continued:“Fuel prices increased because, when the new standard was introduced, traders needed time to adapt to it. That's why prices went up somewhat. But I think, God willing, there will be no concerns in the future. The government also has a plan-they're distributing fuel to gas stations in several provinces, including here in Herat. The process is ongoing, and they're trying to reduce prices. We're also working to lower prices, and our traders already have large quantities of fuel being imported from Russia. God willing, within a few days, the markets will stabilize.”

Some Kabul residents complain about the rising fuel prices.

Shamsullah, the manager of a gas station in Wazirabad, Kabul, says that fuel prices have increased because less oil is currently coming from Iran.

In addition, due to the reconstruction of the Salang Highway, large tanker trucks have been unable to travel on that route for some time, which has also caused transportation fares to rise.

Shamsullah said:“The transport cost for one ton of fuel by small tankers has reached $100 or $105. Our main problem is with the roads.”

He added that previously, the cost of transporting one ton of fuel was $35.

He called on the government to repair the Salang Highway quickly and reopen it for large trucks, to sign agreements with international partners regarding fuel imports and to find alternative routes for bringing in oil.

A Kabul taxi driver named Anil also complained, saying that although global oil prices have dropped and the afghani has strengthened against the dollar, fuel prices in Afghanistan continue to rise.

Another driver, Abdul Ghafar, said that the prices of fuel and gas are high - taxi drivers spend most of what they earn on fuel, and there is very little work.“We ask the government to put pressure on traders,” he said.

He added that if oil is not coming from Iran, it should be imported from other countries“so we can also benefit from cheaper fuel.”

Pajhwok Afghan News contacted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry about the rise in fuel prices, but the ministry said that the issue falls under the authority of the National Standards Authority.

However, the National Standards Authority stated that it is a matter related to the Ministry of Finance.

Abdul Qayyum Nasir, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, said that there have been no changes to tariffs or taxes this year.

He explained that under a newly approved standard by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the quality requirements for imported fuel have been raised for the benefit of the public, and fuel imports from various countries continue according to this new standard.

He added:“The increase in fuel prices in Afghanistan may have various causes. For more detailed information, you can contact the Directorate of Petroleum and Gas and other relevant departments.”

Pajhwok also tried to have comments from the directorate in charge of related private companies but did not receive a response.

Nematullah Barkzai, a representative of the Kabul Municipality, said that the municipality has been publishing official price lists for fuel and other essential goods for the past four years.

Regarding the increase in fuel prices, Barkzai said:“One of the main factors in the price list that plays a major role and remains stable is the value of the afghani against the dollar, which is currently in good condition. However, due to certain decisions made at the government level, there is currently no 80-octane fuel in Kabul; only 92-octane fuel is available. The new price lists published by the municipality also only include 92-octane fuel. Previously, 90-octane fuel was about five to six afghanis more expensive than 80-octane fuel. Now, since the National Standards Authority checks all shipments and returns any tanker whose fuel does not meet quality standards, the available fuel in Kabul is sold according to the official price list. At the moment, there is no 80-octane fuel in the city.”

He added that if anyone has complaints or finds that fuel is being sold above the official price, they should contact the Kabul Municipality through the 155 hotline number to report it.

sa/ma

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