BIRGUNJ: Foreign trade has increased by 44 percent in the first ten months of the current Fiscal Year FY2021/22.

According to the Birgunj Customs Office, a total of Rs 650 billion worth of foreign trade has been transacted from mid-July to mid-April this year.

This is about Rs 200 billion more than the review period of the previous year. From mid-July to mid-April of FY 2020/21, the foreign trade amounted to Rs. 452 billion, according to the Customs data.

In the previous year, foreign trade had also declined due to shrinkage of imports, exports and markets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the import from Birgunj is Rs 577 billion in 10 months, the export is only Rs 73 billion, according to the customs.

However, it is 93 percent more than the same period last year. During the review period, various domestic products worth Rs. 37 billion were exported through this checkpoint.

The Customs data shows that Nepal has a trade deficit of Rs. 503 billion from the total trade through this port alone. This is 34 percent more than the review period of the previous year. Such deficit was Rs 376 billion in the same period.

Vehicles, petroleum products and industrial raw materials are mainly imported from Birgunj. Of the 20 main items imported from this port, 19 are raw materials related items. Ready-made garments alone have received Rs 7.5 billion.

According to the customs, refined soybean, palm and sunflower oil, cloth, yarn, dog or cat food, drink, carpet and toothpaste were exported from Birgunj. Shoes, raw materials of medicines, readymade garments, bags and sacks are also being exported.