According to the latest foreign trade statistics from the Department of Customs, Nepal exported goods worth Rs. 277.96 billion, marking a 12.28% increase compared to the Rs. 247.57 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the last year. This performance surpasses the previous full-year record of Rs. 277.03 billion set in FY 2024/25, signaling a strong recovery after consecutive declines in FY 2022/23 and FY 2023/24.
Export Highlights: Edible Oils Lead the Surge
The historic export growth was primarily driven by processed agricultural products and edible oils, which collectively dominated the export basket.
- Edible Oils: Totaled Rs. 131.10 billion, accounting for 47% of all exports.
- Soybean Oil: Surged to Rs. 113.18 billion (nearly 40% of total exports), up from Rs. 93.51 billion last year.
- Sunflower & Palm Oil: Reached Rs. 8 billion and Rs. 7.31 billion, respectively.
- Cardamom: Saw significant growth, jumping to Rs. 12 billion from Rs. 7.19 billion a year ago.
- Garments & Textiles: Woolen carpets contributed Rs. 9.38 billion, readymade garments brought in Rs. 8.24 billion, and pashmina exports stood at Rs. 3.22 billion.
- Tea & Coffee: Experienced a slight dip, falling to Rs. 3.61 billion from Rs. 4.30 billion in the previous review period.
Imports and the Growing Trade Deficit
Despite the export boom, Nepal's reliance on foreign goods accelerated at a faster pace. Imports surged by 15.16%, climbing to Rs. 1,894.09 billion from Rs. 1,644.79 billion last year.
Consequently, the country’s trade deficit widened by 15.67% to Rs. 1,616.13 billion.
Key Trade Metrics at a Glance:
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Trade Indicator
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Current Period (First 11 Months)
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Comparison / Trend
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Total Foreign Trade
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Rs. 2,172.06 billion
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Up 14.78% year-over-year
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Export Share of Trade
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12.80%
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Declined slightly from 13.08%
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Import Share of Trade
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87.20%
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Dominates the trade composition
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Import-to-Export Ratio
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6.81 times
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Worsened from 6.64 times
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The worsening import-to-export ratio highlights that domestic production remains insufficient to meet growing consumer and industrial demand, forcing a heavy reliance on foreign imports.
Major Import Drivers
Petroleum products and raw materials for processing remain the largest drains on Nepal's foreign reserves.
- Petroleum Products: Remained the top import category at Rs. 297 billion. This included diesel (Rs. 152.67B), petrol (Rs. 68.17B), LPG/cooking gas (Rs. 52.21B), aviation fuel (Rs. 24.06B), and kerosene (Rs. 655M).
- Crude Edible Oils: Imported heavily for domestic processing and re-export, including crude soybean oil (Rs. 119.63B), crude sunflower oil (Rs. 19.11B), and crude palm oil (Rs. 12.97B).
- Cereals: Inflow reached Rs. 55.92 billion.
- Tech & Vehicles: Smartphone imports hit Rs. 43.45 billion, while electric vehicles (three and four-wheelers) accounted for Rs. 27.7 billion.
