KATHMANDU: Nepal imported beauty products worth Rs 3.13 billion in the fiscal year 2022/23 which includes bangles worth Rs 372.2 million and Pote beads worth Rs 224.3 million. Nail polishes and lipsticks worth Rs 364.4 million and Rs 5.86 million, respectively, were also brought into the country during the period.
In contrast, Nepal exported bangles worth Rs 200 million, Pote beads worth Rs 7 million and other beauty products worth Rs 1.3 million, according to the Department of Customs.
The month of Ashadh (mid-June to mid-July) saw a significant surge in imports, with bangles worth Rs 60 million and other beauty products worth Rs 400 million entering the country, targeting the month of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August). Apparels, particularly saris and kurtas for women, worth Rs 290 million were also imported in Ashadh.
Traders strategically focus on beauty products and apparel targeting women during Ashadh, as demand for these products peaks during the auspicious month of Shrawan when most of Hindu women take fast on Mondays. This period holds special significance for Nepali women, who begin shopping for beauty products and apparel in the last week of Ashadh. The demand for red, green, and yellow apparel reaches its peak during this time of the year.
Hemraj Dhakal, commodity vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), stated that the month of Shrawan, in recent years, has emerged as a lucrative month, driving retail market activities. “Traders are now importing goods targeting this season, contrary to the previous belief that trading activities slow down during monsoon months,” he added,
Shrawan’s significance is comparable to that of the Teej festival, which is celebrated in late August, for the demand of apparel and beauty products, according to Sharmila Khatri, vice president of the Nepal Association of Makeup Artists. “For instance, the demand for henna during Shrawan is twice as high as the demand in other 11 months combined,” she added.
Despite the import of apparel and beauty products worth billions of rupees, the pricing for these products lacks standardization. Makeup salons charge arbitrary fees, varying from a few hundred rupees to thousands for their services.
The growing demand for apparel and beauty products has given rise to entrepreneurship, leading to an increase in employment opportunities for women. Notably, makeup parlors and cosmetic shops are now opening even in rural centers, reflecting the widespread reach of this industry beyond urban areas.
