Trade through Korala Border Point Declines after Reopening of Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi Checkpoints

Import and export activities through the northern Korala border point linking Nepal and China have declined sharply following the reopening of the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi checkpoints, the Mustang Customs Office said.

Customs officials said cargo movement through Korala has slowed as traders have shifted to Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi, which recently resumed operations. As a result, only a handful of cargo containers are now entering Nepal through Korala.

Information Officer Nimendra Singh said only eight to 10 cargo containers are currently pending customs clearance at the Korala customs point. Apart from these, no additional containers have arrived in recent days, he added.

Before the reopening of Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points, the Korala border point used to clear 15 to 20 cargo containers daily. That volume has now almost entirely dropped, Singh said.

Since Korala became fully operational on September 15, customs clearance of goods imported through the point has generated more than Rs 5.5 billion in revenue. According to the customs office, Nepal has so far imported goods worth over Rs 11 billion through Korala, while exports to China—mainly handicrafts and Nepali products—have exceeded Rs 190 million.

Singh said more than 2,100 electric vehicles have entered Nepal through Korala so far. Most recently, BYD imported nearly 500 electric vehicles via the border point.

Korala has largely been used as an alternative trade route. With the reopening of Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi, customs officials said activity at Korala has declined, leaving staff relatively idle. Higher transportation costs associated with the Korala route have also discouraged traders from using the checkpoint.

However, Singh said trade through Korala will not come to a complete halt except during adverse weather conditions.

“Trade volumes may not be as high as when Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi were closed, but some traders still find Korala more convenient,” he said. “The customs office here will not become inactive as in previous years.”

At present, activity at the Korala border point and customs office has noticeably thinned. Despite harsh weather conditions, a limited number of customs officials remain stationed there. Traders operating at an altitude of 4,610 metres above sea level, along with local youths involved in transporting cargo containers and electric vehicles from the Chinese side, have moved to lower areas to escape the cold, also resulting in a slowdown in trade activity. -- RSS