Foreign exchange reserves up 11.3% to Rs 2,979.81 billion

KATHMANDU: Gross foreign exchange reserves grew by 11.3% in the first three months of the fiscal year 2025/26, according to the Nepal Rastra Bank.

According to the Current Macroeconomic Situation Report of the first quarter of the current fiscal year ending mid-October, unveiled on Sunday, reserves reached Rs 2,979.81 billion in mid-October 2025, up from Rs 2,677.68 billion in mid-July.

In US dollar terms, reserves increased 8.7% to 21.21 billion from 19.50 billion over the same period.

Reserves held by the NRB rose by 10.5% to Rs 2,667.70 billion, while those maintained by banks and financial institutions, excluding the central bank, jumped 18.7% to Rs 312.10 billion. Indian currency accounted for 24% of total reserves in mid-October.

The current reserve levels are adequate to cover 19.9 months of prospective merchandise imports and 16.4 months of merchandise and services imports, according to the central bank.