KATHMANDU: Nepal’s merchandise imports increased by 15.83 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year, reaching Rs 766.18 billion, according to the Department of Customs.
During the same period of the previous fiscal year, the country had imported goods worth Rs 661.48 billion.
Exports also recorded a sharp rise in the review period. Nepal exported goods worth Rs 116.50 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year, up by 58.17 percent compared to Rs 73.65 billion in the corresponding period last year.
According to customs data, soybean oil and its raw materials dominated both imports and exports during the period.
Nepal imported soybean oil raw materials worth Rs 46.97 billion, while exports of soybean oil and its raw materials stood at Rs 46.55 billion in the same period.
Among major imports, diesel topped the list with imports worth Rs 45.60 billion. This was followed by petrol worth Rs 27.33 billion and cooking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) worth Rs 22.39 billion.
On the export side, large cardamom emerged as a key export item, earning Rs 5.53 billion. Carpet and textile exports amounted to Rs 4.13 billion, while exports of sunflower seeds and safflower oil were valued at Rs 3.73 billion.
Despite the notable growth in exports, Nepal continues to face a significant trade imbalance, with imports far outpacing exports during the review period.
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