Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s exports surged 77.77%, reaching Rs 247.57 billion over the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2024/25.
According to foreign trade data released by the Department of Customs on Friday, the country’s foreign trade surged 18.8% to Rs 1,892.36 billion during the review period. The country’s foreign trade was worth Rs 1,590 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Imports rose by 13.15%, reaching Rs 1,644.79 billion in the first 11 months of 2024/25, compared to Rs 1,450 billion in the same period of 2023/24. Although exports experienced a sharp jump of 77.77%, the total trade deficit widened by 6.3% to Rs 1,397.22 billion. The imports/exports ratio improved significantly, dropping from 10.44 to 6.64—indicating a better balance between import and export volumes. Exports accounted for 13.08% of total trade, up from 8.74% last year, while the share of imports declined from 91.26% to 86.92% in the first eleven months of 2024/25, which ended in mid-June.
Diesel was Nepal’s top import in the review period as the country imported Rs 115.55 billion worth of diesel in the 11 months of 2024/25. Crude soybean oil (Rs 95.72 billion), petrol (Rs 58.58 billion), liquefied petroleum gas (Rs 57.33 billion) and sponge iron (Rs 45.71 billion) were the other leading import commodities in the review period.
On the export front, the top five products included soybean oil and its fractions (Rs 93.51 billion), sunflower oil (Rs 11.33 billion), handmade carpets (Rs 9.78 billion), big cardamom (Rs 7.19 billion) and galvanized steel (Rs 5.13 billion).
The data suggests that while imports continue to dominate Nepal’s trade portfolio, the country has made meaningful progress in boosting its exports. The narrowing imports/exports ratio and the rising share of exports in total trade reflect improving trade diversification and export competitiveness.
