Nepal has experienced a notable rise in its exports, with outbound trade rising by 72.7% during the first ten months of the fiscal year 2024/25, according to the latest data from the Department of Customs.
From mid-July 2024 to mid-May 2025, the country exported goods worth NRs 217.91 billion, a sharp rise from NRs 126.17 billion recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year. Imports also posted modest growth, increasing by 13.11% to NRs 1,474.18 billion, up from NRs 1,333.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.
The dramatic rise in exports has been primarily driven by refined edible oils. Soybean oil remained Nepal’s top export commodity, contributing over NRs 78.75 billion to the total. Sunflower oil followed as the second most valuable export, with earnings of NRs 10.09 billion during the review period.
This growth also reflects a broader diversification in Nepal’s export base. More than three dozen export items have now surpassed the NRs 1 billion mark individually, suggesting that the country’s export portfolio is expanding beyond a few core commodities.
List of the top 12 commodities that individually surpassed the NRs one billion mark:
- Soya-bean oil
- Sunflower-seed and safflower oil
- Carpets and other textile floor coverings
- Large Cardamom (Elaichi)
- Rolled iron/steel
- Jute
- Juice
- Single yarn (with over 85% polyester)
- Other yarn (with less than 85% polyester staple fibres)
- Felt
- Tea
- Chhurpi
Despite this encouraging growth in exports, Nepal continues to grapple with a substantial trade imbalance. The trade deficit widened by 6.72%, reaching over NRs 1.26 trillion in the ten-month period. Total foreign trade during this time amounted to more than NRs 1.69 trillion, highlighting the persistent dominance of imports over exports in the country’s trade structure.
