Market trade range
Trade specification6,000 – 6,800kcal/kg GCV
Sulphur< 1%
Ash8 – 14%
Total moisture6 – 10%
The quality Pakistani buyers traded on before the closure, from a published trader specification.
Photo: Zabihullah Habibi / Unsplash
Imported overland · Supply suspended
Afghan coal: specifications and current status.
Until October 2025, Afghan coal was the main fuel for northern Pakistan's cement plants — high heat, low moisture and low sulphur, trucked through Torkham and Chaman. Supply is suspended while the border stays closed.
Supply suspended — Pakistan–Afghanistan border closed since 11 Oct 2025. Ask us about RB2, Iranian or Zardalo instead.
- Heat value
- 6,000 – 6,800kcal/kg (market range)
- Sulphur
- < 1%market range
- Ash
- 8 – 14%market range
- Status
- Suspendedborder closed since 11 Oct 2025
Grades
Lab sample vs market range
Afghan coal is sub-bituminous to high-volatile bituminous and varies widely by seam. The published Dara-i-Suf lab sample sits below the commercial trade range.
Dara-i-Suf lab sample
Peer-reviewed sample≈ 5,210kcal/kg (21.81 MJ/kg)
Sulphurnot reported
Ash15.7%
Moisture4.95%
Volatile matter 30.95%, fixed carbon 48.4% (Omar et al., 2017).
Specification
Specification
| Parameter | Basis | Dara-i-Suf lab sample | Market trade range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross calorific value | AR | ≈ 5,210 kcal/kg | 6,000 – 6,800 kcal/kg |
| Moisture | AR | 4.95% | 6 – 10% |
| Ash | AR | 15.7% | 8 – 14% |
| Volatile matter | AR | 30.95% | 28 – 40% |
| Fixed carbon | AR | 48.4% | 40 – 55% |
| Total sulphur | — | not reported | below 1% |
| Size | — | — | 0.5–5, 5–10, 10–25, 25–50, 50+ mm |
Lab sample from Omar et al. (2017); market range from a published Pakistani trader specification. Supply suspended while the border is closed.
Use cases
Where Afghan coal works best.
Northern cement kilns
Historically about 70% of the fuel burned by north Pakistan's cement plants (2022).
Boilers
High heat and low moisture for industrial steam.
Alternatives today
RB2, Iranian and Zardalo coal now cover Afghan demand.
Supply route
How Afghan coal reached Pakistan
- 01Mines
Dara-i-Suf (Samangan) and Karkar–Dudkash (Baghlan)
- 02Road
Trucked south through Afghanistan
- 03Border
Torkham and Chaman crossings
- 04Pakistan
Delivered to northern cement plants and industry
- 05Now
Suspended since the border closure of 11 Oct 2025
Questions
Afghan coal FAQ
Specifications are indicative. Final quality follows the certificate of analysis of each cargo or lot.
Is Afghan coal available now?
No. Imports stopped when the Pakistan–Afghanistan border closed on 11 October 2025. We supply RB2, Iranian and Zardalo coal as alternatives.
What was the price of Afghan coal?
Reported prices were US$170 – 200/t in March 2022 and about Rs 43,000 – 45,000/t in August 2023.
What is the best replacement for Afghan coal?
For kilns, South African RB2 is the most common replacement. Iranian coal matches Afghan coal's high heat and low sulphur, and Zardalo offers a high-heat local option.
Get a price
Need Afghan coal delivered?
Tell us the grade, quantity and delivery point — our commercial team replies directly.
