Nepal’s International Trade: A Decade of First-Month Trends in Imports, Exports and Trade Deficit (F.Y. 2073/74 - 2083/84)
Summary
Nepal’s first-month trade data over the past decade shows imports rising from Rs. 70.17 billion to Rs. 187.44 billion, while exports climbed from Rs. 6.95 billion to Rs. 38.70 billion. Despite the export improvement, the country continued to run a large trade deficit and remain heavily dependent on imports.
Key Points
- Nepal’s first-month imports rose sharply over the decade, reaching Rs. 187.44 billion in F.Y. 2083/84 from Rs. 70.17 billion in F.Y. 2073/74.
- Exports also increased significantly, from Rs. 6.95 billion to Rs. 38.70 billion, with a stronger long-term growth rate than imports.
- Nepal recorded a trade deficit throughout the review period, which widened to Rs. 148.74 billion in F.Y. 2083/84.
- COVID-19 disruptions and policy shocks affected trade in the middle years, but recent export growth has improved the import-export ratio.
