KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded a trade deficit of Rs 148.74 billion in the first month of the current fiscal year, marking a 24.9 percent increase. In the same period of the previous year, the trade deficit had grown by 2.5 percent. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, total merchandise exports rose by 61.7 percent to Rs 38.70 billion during the review month.
Exports to India grew by 71.0 percent, while exports to China surged by 287.8 percent. Key items contributing to the export growth included soybean oil, palm oil, polyester yarn, jute goods, and particle board. Conversely, exports of Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, processed leather, and Nepali paper declined.
Imports also increased by 31.0 percent, reaching Rs 187.44 billion. The rise in imports was driven by petroleum products, chemical fertilizers, edible oil, and crude soybean oil. Meanwhile, imports of paddy, rice, gold, bitumen, coal, and medical supplies saw a decrease. The export-import ratio reached 20.6 percent during the review period.
