Lang
KATHMANDU – Edible oils emerged as the leading commodities for both imports and exports in Nepal during the initial month of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27, spanning mid-July to mid-August. This trend highlights Nepal's expanding role as a key processing and re-export hub for edible oils, primarily serving the Indian market.
According to data released by the Department of Customs (DoC), Nepal's imports of crude soybean oil reached an impressive Rs 18.40 billion during the review period, making it the country's top import by value. Concurrently, soybean oil also claimed the position of Nepal's largest export item, generating Rs 17.99 billion in export earnings. This robust performance is attributed to Nepali traders who import crude edible oils from third countries, process them domestically, and then export the refined products, largely to India.
Further solidifying the dominance of edible oils in Nepal's export portfolio, the country also exported palm oil valued at Rs 1.29 billion and sunflower oil amounting to Rs 1.20 billion within the same period.
While edible oils led the trade balance, other significant commodities contributed to Nepal's import figures. Diesel ranked second at Rs 13.85 billion, followed by cooking gas imports at Rs 8.46 billion, and DAP fertilizer at Rs 7.86 billion. Petrol imports stood at Rs 6.88 billion. Non-oil imports included smartphones at Rs 3.87 billion, laptops and notebooks at Rs 1.20 billion, and gold at Rs 1.10 billion.
On the export front, steel was the second-largest earner after soybean oil, bringing in Rs 1.15 billion. Other notable export items reported by the DoC included jute goods worth Rs 1.60 billion, carpets at Rs 840 million, and cardamom valued at Rs 670 million.
Source: myRepublica