Afghanistan’s domestic steel industry has been steadily declining after the government stopped selling scrap to steel factories, local media quoted Afghanistan Industries Union.
Afghanistan housed 50 private steel mills which have now reduced to 10, producing at 30pc levels. The government had stopped selling state-owned iron ore to these plants.
Afghanistan imported about 900,000mt of iron and domestic mills can produce 700,000mt to 800,000mt of iron per annum if conditions are favourable for iron production, subsequently reducing imports.
Pakistan and a few Middle-Eastern countries import steel from Afghanistan, according to Davis Index sources.