Birgunj Customs, which handles the largest share of Nepal’s foreign trade, recorded imports worth Rs 390 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, marking an 11.40% increase (Rs 39.92 billion) compared to the same period last year.

Chief Customs Administrator Dipak Lamichhane stated that imports of petroleum products, raw soybean oil, and motor vehicles were particularly high during this period.

Between July 16 and March 13, petroleum product imports (five types) amounted to over Rs 122 billion, slightly higher than Rs 120.53 billion in the corresponding period last year.

“The increase in imports of petroleum products appears to be driven by infrastructure development activities,” Lamichhane told the state-run national news agency RSS in a recent interview.

Raw soybean oil imports saw a significant surge, reaching Rs 29.29 billion, compared to Rs 5.78 billion last year.

Iron and iron-related materials also saw notable imports, totaling Rs 22.51 billion, up from Rs 21.94 billion in the previous year.

The customs office recorded imports of machinery and their parts worth Rs 21.67 billion, an increase from Rs 18.65 billion in the same period last year.

Motor vehicle imports stood at Rs 11.68 billion, compared to Rs 10.10 billion in the corresponding period last year. -- RSS