Exports up 96% in Shrawan

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s exports surged by nearly 96% percent in the first month of the current fiscal year 2025/26.

Foreign trade data of the month of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) released by the Department of Customs on Friday shows Nepal exported goods worth Rs 23.93 billion in the review month, almost double the Rs 12.23 billion recorded in the same month of the previous fiscal year.

The share of exports in total trade also jumped from 8.7% to 14.3% percent, reflecting a sharp improvement in Nepal’s trade composition.

Imports, meanwhile, rose by 11.4% percent year-on-year to Rs 143.04 billion, up from Rs 128.38 billion in the corresponding period of 2024/25.
Despite the increase in imports, the ratio of imports to exports fell from 10.5:1 to 5.98:1.

The overall foreign trade reached Rs 166.97 billion in the first month, marking an 18.8% increase compared to Rs 140.6 billion a year earlier.

The trade deficit, however, went up by 2.55% to Rs. 119.11 billion.

Imports continued to dominate total trade, accounting for 85.7% of the country’s total foreign trade. However, the  share of imports in total foreign trade fell by 6.17% in the review month.