Foreign trade surges by 40% to Rs. 761 B in first quarter

Kathmandu, Oct. 29: Nepal’s total foreign trade increased by 40.71 per cent, reaching Rs. 761.07 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2026/27, driven by a sharp rise in both imports and exports.

According to the latest trade statistics made public by the Department of Customs on Wednesday, exports recorded a stronger growth of 57.03 per cent, reaching Rs. 114.29 billion, compared with Rs. 72.78 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The country recorded exports worth more than Rs. 315 billion in the last fiscal year, setting a new annual record. The strong growth in exports during the first three months of the current fiscal year indicates that the total could surpass that level this year if the trend continues.

However, the export growth rate has fluctuated slightly. Exports surged by 61.72 per cent in the first month (mid-July to mid-August), while the growth rate stood at 61.86 per cent during the first two months (mid-July to mid-September).

Similarly, imports increased by 38.18 per cent to Rs. 646.78 billion during the review period, up from Rs. 468.08 billion in the first three months of FY 2025/26.

Despite the faster growth in exports, the country's trade deficit widened by 34.71 per cent to Rs. 532.49 billion from Rs. 395.30 billion a year earlier, reflecting the continued gap between the value of goods imported and exported by the country.