Nepal exported edible oil worth approximately Rs 56 billion in the past eight months, driven by the import of raw materials, domestic processing, and value addition.

According to foreign trade statistics for the current fiscal year up to mid-March, released by the Department of Customs, the country’s overall imports increased by 11.20 percent, while exports surged by 57.20 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year. This growth has significantly boosted edible oil’s share in Nepal’s total exports.

During this period, Nepal’s total exports stood at Rs 158 billion. Soybean oil accounted for the largest share, with exports worth Rs 47.95 billion, followed by sunflower oil at Rs 7.98 billion, cardamom at Rs 5.84 billion, and carpets at Rs 4.32 billion.

The department reported that in the past eight months, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1,145.66 billion while exporting goods worth Rs 158.17 billion.

The trade deficit with India alone reached Rs 563.67 billion during this period. From mid-July 2024 to mid-March 2025, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 688.68 billion from India while exporting Rs 125 billion. Meanwhile, trade with China resulted in a deficit of Rs 217 billion, with imports totaling Rs 219.18 billion and exports at just Rs 2.12 billion. Nepal also recorded trade deficits with Argentina, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. However, it maintained a trade surplus with 34 countries, including Afghanistan, Denmark, Russia, Austria, and the Maldives.

Petroleum product imports remained high, with Nepal importing diesel worth Rs 78.86 billion, petrol worth Rs 42.80 billion, and liquefied petroleum (LP) gas worth Rs 41 billion over the eight-month period. Additionally, imports included electric vehicles worth Rs 9.69 billion and other vehicles worth Rs 2.11 billion. The country also imported 1,407,078 smartphones worth Rs 21.91 billion during this period. -- RSS