KABUL, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Afghan handmade carpets are now being exported to 37 countries worldwide, underscoring the sector's expanding international appeal and growing economic significance, the official Bakhtar News Agency reported on Sunday.

A vendor checks carpets at a store in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 7, 2025. (File photo: Xinhua)

Renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, intricate traditional designs, and use of premium natural wool, Afghan carpets have earned a prestigious place in global markets as one of the country's flagship export commodities, Bakhtar quoted Abdullah Rahman Qul, head of the Carpet Union in Afghanistan.

The industry now produces 10,000 square meters per month, providing direct employment to over 15,000 people, a significant portion of whom are women, playing a vital role in sustaining livelihoods nationwide, Rahman Qul stated.

The official asserted that the bulk of exports are directed to Türkiye, European nations, Arab countries, the United States, and Canada.

Afghanistan exported carpets and rugs worth 18 million U.S. dollars in the past year, the union said in April.

Afghanistan's handwoven carpet industry remains an important source of foreign exchange earnings and an emblem of the nation's deep-rooted cultural and artisanal legacy.