Kathmandu, July 24: Nepal’s total foreign trade exceeded Rs. 2410 billion in the last fiscal year 2025/26 (2082/83 BS), driven by record-high imports, according to the latest data released by the Department of Customs.
The data show that Nepal imported goods worth more than Rs. 2096 billion, the highest annual import value in the country’s history. Imports increased by 16% compared to the previous fiscal year, when goods worth Rs. 1804 billion were imported.
Exports also recorded steady growth, rising by 13.81 percent to surpass the Rs. 300 billion mark for the first time. Nepal exported goods worth Rs. 315.29 billion during the fiscal year, up from Rs. 277 billion in 2024/25.
Overall, Nepal’s total foreign trade increased by 15.88 percent to more than Rs. 2410 billion. However, the country’s trade deficit widened by 16.63 percent, reaching Rs. 1781 billion, compared to Rs. 1527 billion in the previous fiscal year.
According to the Department of Customs, Nepal traded with 162 countries during the fiscal year, but recorded a trade surplus with only 25 countries, and only by narrow margins.
Fuel remains Nepal’s largest import
Fuel continued to account for the largest share of imports, with petroleum products worth Rs. 386 billion imported during the year.
The breakdown includes:
- Diesel: Rs. 172 billion
- Petrol: Rs. 77.26 billion
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Rs. 60 billion
- Aviation fuel: Rs. 26.64 billion
Other major imports included:
- Crude soybean oil: Rs. 132 billion
- Steel and iron products: Rs. 86 billion
- Smartphones: Rs. 48 billion
- Medicines: Rs. 29 billion
- Gold: Rs. 26 billion
Soybean oil leads exports
On the export side, refined soybean oil remained Nepal’s largest export item. During the fiscal year, Nepal exported:
- Refined soybean oil: Rs. 128.74 billion
- Carpets: Rs. 10 billion
- Sunflower oil: Rs. 8.94 billion
- Palm oil: Rs. 6 billion
- Felt products: Rs. 5.75 billion
- Yarn: Rs. 5.42 billion
Nepal imported goods worth Rs. 1210 billion from India during the fiscal year, while exports to the southern neighbour stood at Rs. 258 billion, making India by far Nepal’s largest export destination.
Meanwhile, imports from China reached Rs. 425 billion, reflecting the country’s continued dependence on Chinese goods. However, Nepal’s exports to China remained minimal at just Rs. 1.89 billion, highlighting a significant trade imbalance between the two countries. #nepal
