SATV Nov. 25: With improvements in both exports and imports, Nepal's foreign trade witnessed significant growth during the first four months of the current fiscal year.

According to the latest trade statistics published by the Department of Customs, foreign trade surged by 24.18 per cent to Rs. 702.94 billion during the four-month period from mid-July to mid-November 2025.

During the review period, exports increased notably by 77.51 per cent. 

Goods worth Rs. 93.49 billion were exported in the first four months of the current fiscal year, compared to Rs. 52.67 billion during the same period of the last fiscal year.

Along with exports, imports also increased by 18.71 per cent to Rs. 609.45 billion during the review period. 

In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, the country had imported goods worth Rs. 513.38 billion.

Due to the lower volume of exports compared to imports, the country’s trade deficit surged by 11.99 per cent to Rs. 515.95 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal year. 

The trade deficit stood at Rs. 460.71 billion during the same period of the last fiscal year.

With significant growth in exports, the export-to-import ratio has decreased by 33.12 per cent during the review period. The export-to-import ratio currently stands at 1:6.52, compared to 1:9.75 in the same period last fiscal year.

The share of export in the total foreign trade is only 13.30 per cent while that of import is at 86.70 per cent. 

The share of export in total foreign trade grew by 43 per cent while the share of import drops by 4 per cent during the review period.

Soybean oil drives export growth

The growth in exports was largely driven by higher shipments of soybean oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, carpets, garments, tea, and coffee.

The country exported soybean oil worth Rs. 38.43 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal year. Soybean oil alone accounts for 41 per cent of total exports during the period.

Similarly, sunflower oil worth Rs. 2.73 million and palm oil worth Rs. 2.36 million were exported during the review period.

Other major export items included carpets worth Rs. 3.26 billion, garments worth about Rs. 3.06 billion, tea and coffee worth Rs. 1.53 million, cardamom worth Rs. 3.97 million, and dog chews worth Rs. 1.03 million

On the import side, petroleum products worth Rs. 78.98 billion were imported during the first four months of the current fiscal year. 

This includes diesel worth Rs. 31.89 billion, petrol worth Rs. 22.37 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs. 6.44 billion, kerosene worth Rs. 209 million, and liquefied petroleum gas worth Rs. 18.08 billion.

The country also imported crude soybean oil worth Rs. 37.94 billion, crude palm oil worth Rs. 3.83 billion, and sunflower oil worth Rs. 5.09 billion during the review period.

Likewise, imports included paddy and rice worth Rs. 10.18 billion and maize worth Rs. 4.66 billion by mid-November of the current fiscal year.