Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s foreign trade expanded by 22.54% over the first two months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.
According to the Department of Customs (DoC), Nepal’s total foreign trade during the period was recorded at Rs 352.47 billion
Foreign trade data released by the DoC on Tuesday shows imports posted a 16.23% year-on-year increase to Rs 305.15 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year. Exports, on the other hand, jumped by a staggering 88.57% to Rs 47.32 billion. The sharp rise in exports narrowed the imports-to-exports ratio to 6.45 from 10.46 a year earlier.
Despite the export growth, Nepal’s trade deficit widened by 8.59% to Rs 257.84 billion in the review period, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on imports.
Data shows exports accounted for only 13.42% of Nepal’s total foreign trade during the period, up from 8.72% in the same period of the previous fiscal year. Imports, meanwhile, made up 86.58% of total foreign trade, down from 91.28% in the same period of 2024/25.
While exports have surged, nearly half of the earnings in the review period came from refined edible oil shipments to India—a trade that remains highly vulnerable to policy shifts. The export of refined oil has long been subject to fluctuations driven by Indian government decisions, with Indian refiners lobbying for higher tariffs on Nepali products. Indian refiners have long argued that their business is being affected by cheaper Nepali exports. Any such tariff hike would deliver a severe blow to Nepal’s export trade.
Top Imports
Crude Soybean Oil – Rs 21.64 billion
Diesel – Rs 14.91 billion
DAP – Rs 13.66 billion
Petrol – Rs 10.58 billion
LPG – Rs 9.43 billion
Top Exports
Soybean oil – Rs 20.42 billion
Sunflower oil – Rs 1.38 billion
Palm Oil – Rs 1.31 billion
Jute – Rs 1.02 billion
Hand-knotted carpet – Rs 1.01 billion
