Afghanistan: Weekly Market Report: Issue 297: Week 4 - May 2026

Country: Afghanistan Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. Highlights Exchange Rate and Trade Dynamics: During the fourth week of May, the Afghani exchange rate remained stable at AFN 63.8/USD, while remaining stronger than both last year and the three-year average, helping to moderate the impact of imported inflation on domestic markets. Market supply conditions remained generally stable, supported by ongoing domestic harvests and continued imports through regional trade corridors. However, transportation costs, regional trade uncertainties, and high import dependence continue to pose risks to market stability and contribute to localized price fluctuations. Food Items: Overall, national average food prices remained relatively stable during the fourth week of May, with moderate week-on-week declines across major food commodities. However, compared to last year, most key food commodities continue to remain above year-ago levels, particularly wheat grain (+14%), wheat flour (high-price +9%; low-price +12%), rice (high-quality +38%; low-quality +28%), cooking oil (+4%), sugar (+25%), and salt (+10%). Meanwhile, pulses (-12%) and bread (-4%), remain below their respective levels from the same period last year. The higher year-on-year prices reflect increases recorded between Oct-25 and Mar-26 following border closures with Pakistan and the rerouting of trade through Iran and Central Asia. Since then, improved trade flows and market availability have gradually contributed to declining price levels. Vegetables: Vegetable prices continued their seasonal decline, supported by increased domestic production and improved market availability. Tomato prices recorded a significant weekly decrease of 18.5%, while potato prices declined by 2.3%. In contrast, onion prices incre...

Original source: Relief Web