Prices of flour, oil and gold decrease in Kabul compared to a week ago

KABUL (Pajhwok) -- Wholesale prices of Kazakh flour and Malaysian oil have decreased in Kabul markets compared to seven days ago, while prices of other essential commodities remained unchanged.

Zmari Safi, head of the Kabul food traders' union, said the wholesale price of 49 kilograms of Kazakh flour fell from 1,550 afghanis to 1,470 afghanis, and 16 liters of Malaysian oil dropped from 1,900 afghanis to 1,850 afghanis. He attributed the decline to increased imports and reduced demand.

Other wholesale prices were stable: 24 kilograms of Indian rice at 3,000 afghanis, 49 kilograms of Indian wheat flour at 2,800 afghanis, one kilogram of African black tea at 380 afghanis, and one kilogram of Indonesian green tea at 350 afghanis.

Retail seller Hamed Sofizada reported retail prices of 49 kilograms of Kazakh flour at 1,520 afghanis, 24 kilograms of Indian rice at 3,050 afghanis, 49 kilograms of Indian wheat flour at 2,850 afghanis, 16 liters of Malaysian oil at 1,900 afghanis, one kilogram of Indonesian green tea at 400 afghanis, and one kilogram of African black tea at 430 afghanis.

Fuel prices were unchanged: one liter of petrol at 61 afghanis and diesel at 66 afghanis, according to a worker at a fuel tank in Kabul. Mohammad Jan Amin, a shopkeeper in Dehnbagh, said one kilogram of liquefied gas remained at 55 afghanis.

Gold prices also declined. Mohammad Fouad, owner of a jewelry shop in Kabul, said one gram of 750-purity Arabic gold fell from 8,240 afghanis to 8,020 afghanis, and one gram of 585-purity Russian gold dropped from 6,550 afghanis to 6,380 afghanis. He linked the change to global market fluctuations.

Exchange rates saw a slight increase: Haji Mohammad Hossein, owner of a money exchange in Sarai Shahzada, said the buying rate for one U.S. dollar was 63.60 afghanis, up from 63.50 afghanis a week earlier. One thousand Pakistani rupees exchanged for 215 afghanis, compared to 213 afghanis previously.