Kathmandu, 22 August (H.S.): Nepal’s total foreign trade registered a 35.44 per cent increase during the first month of the 2026-27 fiscal year, covering the period from mid-July to mid-August 2026.

According to preliminary data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal’s total foreign trade rose to NPR 226.14 billion during the review period, compared with NPR 166.97 billion recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Imports increased by 31.04 per cent to NPR 187.44 billion during the period under review, compared with NPR 143.04 billion in the first month of fiscal year 2025-26.

Exports recorded an even sharper increase, rising by 61.72 per cent. Nepal’s exports, which stood at NPR 23.93 billion during the first month of the previous fiscal year, climbed to NPR 38.70 billion between mid-July and mid-August 2026.

Despite the significant growth in exports, imports continued to substantially exceed exports, resulting in a 24.88 per cent increase in Nepal’s trade deficit. The deficit rose to NPR 148.73 billion, compared with NPR 119.10 billion during the corresponding period last year.

The import-export ratio, however, improved by 1.97 percentage points, declining from 5.90 to 4.84. The share of exports in Nepal’s total foreign trade also increased to 17.11 per cent, compared with 14.33 per cent during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the share of imports declined from 85.67 per cent to 82.89 per cent, indicating a modest improvement in the composition of Nepal’s external trade despite the widening overall trade deficit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar