Kathmandu: Nepal’s import bill surged by around 12.5 percent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, reaching Rs. 1.289 trillion, according to data released by the Department of Customs.
During the same period, the country exported goods worth only Rs. 191 billion, highlighting a persistent imbalance in foreign trade.
Although exports grew by 20.83 percent compared to the previous year, the sharp rise in imports pushed Nepal’s trade deficit to Rs. 1.098 trillion. This marks an 11.22 percent increase from the same period last fiscal year, when the deficit stood at Rs. 987 billion.
Overall, foreign trade also expanded by about 13 percent. Nepal’s total trade volume reached Rs. 1.48 trillion in the review period, up from Rs. 1.303 trillion in the corresponding months of the previous fiscal year. However, imports continue to dominate the trade structure, accounting for 87.09 percent of total trade, while exports make up just 12.91 percent.
Fuel and energy-related products remain the biggest drivers of imports. Diesel topped the list at Rs. 82 billion, followed by crude soybean oil at Rs. 66 billion, petrol at Rs. 43 billion, and liquefied petroleum gas at Rs. 37 billion. In addition, Nepal imported gold worth Rs. 23 billion and mobile phones of the same value during the period, reflecting strong domestic demand for both luxury and consumer goods.
The data underscores Nepal’s continued reliance on imports and the challenge of narrowing its widening trade deficit despite steady growth in exports.
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