KATHMANDU: Goods worth more than Rs 16 billion were imported through the eastern border point of Kakarbhitta in the first four months of the current fiscal year, while exports stood at around Rs 8 billion, according to the Mechi Customs Office.
From Shrawan to the end of Kartik of FY 2082/83, imports reached Rs 16.02 billion, Information Officer Ishwar Kumar Humagain said. Compared to the same period last fiscal year, imports have increased by 12.12 percent, while exports have declined by 4.12 percent.
Exports during the four-month period amounted to Rs 8.96 billion, slightly higher than last year’s Rs 8.30 billion.
Customs revenue collection from both imports and exports reached Rs 5.46 billion. Of this, Rs 5.33 billion came from imports and Rs 123.4 million from exports. Total revenue collection increased by 15.66 percent, equivalent to an additional Rs 739.4 million.
Cardamom topped the list of export commodities, recording a 109.2 percent surge. The value of cardamom exports reached Rs 3.97 billion, an increase of over Rs 2 billion compared to the same period last year.
In contrast, tea exports saw a steep 37 percent decline, totaling Rs 1.37 billion. Plywood exports also fell sharply by 52.7 percent, amounting to only Rs 595 million compared to last year’s Rs 1.25 billion.
Veneer sheet exports, however, increased by 135.8 percent, rising to Rs 386.2 million. Pet food exports, dog and cat food, grew by 33 percent, reaching Rs 379.9 million.
Exports of amriso (broom grass) declined by 23.9 percent, totaling Rs 262.5 million. Ginger and dried ginger exports rose by 3.2 percent, reaching Rs 242.4 million.
Exports of cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli increased by 36.1 percent, with shipments worth Rs 113.1 million recorded in the four-month period.
The Mechi Customs Office reported a remarkable 481 percent surge in lentil (musuro) exports. Lentil shipments reached Rs 91.2 million, compared to only Rs 15.7 million in the same period last fiscal year.
However, exports of iron sheets dropped drastically by 97.3 percent, amounting to just Rs 37.8 million this year, the office said.
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