Fruits worth Rs. 16.1 billion imported, with 44% share of apples

By Laxman Kafle,Kathmandu, July 30: Fruits worth Rs. 16.16 billion have been imported during the last fiscal year 2022/23.

According to annual trade statistics of the Department of Customs, the country has imported fruits, including bananas, apples, guavas, mangoes, oranges, grapes, papayas and pomegranates, among others, worth Rs. 16.16 billion in the last fiscal year.

The statistics showed that the import of fruits was 8 per cent lower during the last fiscal year 2022/23 than in the previous fiscal year 2021/22. The fruits worth Rs. 17.46 billion had entered the country in the previous fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, the country had spent Rs. 16.52 billion for the import of fruits in the fiscal year 2020/21 and Rs. 14.90 billion in the fiscal year 2019/20.

Amar Baniya, president of Nepal Fruit Wholesalers Association, said that the import of fruits has decreased this year due to the increase in local production and the decreased consumption.

“The production of oranges, apples and bananas has been increasing in the last few years. In the meantime, consumption of fruits has decreased lately due to the reduction in people’s income. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in imports,” he told The Rising Nepal.

According to Baniya, the consumption of fruits, which has been increasing for the past few years, has started to decrease after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The increase in the price of fruits, especially apples, has also led to a decrease in imports, because when the price increases, consumption falls,” he said.

The price of apples is being traded at Rs. 325 a kg in the wholesale market, he said.

He said that the import of fruits might be decreased this year due to imposition of value added tax (VAT) on fruits import. 

He said that after the implementation of VAT on fruits, consumption would decrease as it would have a direct impact on the price.

Apples worth Rs. 7 billion imported

Among the fruits imported, apple import was the highest during the review period. The share of apples in the total fruits import stood at 44 per cent.

According to the Department, about 83.3 million kgs of apples worth Rs. 7.09 billion were imported last year. From that, the government has collected revenue equal to Rs. 868.3 million.

Even though the import of apples amounted the highest, its import has reduced during the review period as compared to previous fiscal year. About 86.8 million kgs of apples worth Rs. 7.15 billion were imported in the fiscal year 2021/22. Most of the apples come from China, followed by India, Switzerland and America.

Around 53.83 million kgs of apples worth Rs. 5.15 billion have been imported from China while 29.4 million kgs worth Rs. 1.93 billion from India.

Similarly, about 35,000 kgs of apples worth Rs. 2.72 million have been imported from Switzerland and 20,580 kgs of apples worth Rs. 5 million have been imported from the United States of America in the last fiscal year. 

Apples grow in various places in the northern Himalayan region of Nepal. The climate is also suitable for growing juicy apples, said Baniya. However, local apple production meets only 5 per cent of the annual consumption, he said.

Grapes Rs. 2.32 billion, bananas Rs. 1.62 billion imported In the last fiscal year, the second most imported fruits were grapes, while bananas stood third.

The country has spent Rs. 2.32 billion for the import of grapes and Rs. 1.63 billion for the import of bananas in the last fiscal year 2022/23.

During the review period, 31.71 million kgs of grapes and 53.4 million kgs of bananas were imported.

The import of grapes has declined during the review period as compared to previous fiscal year.

In the previous fiscal year 2021/22, around 33.30 million kgs grapes worth Rs. 2.44 billion were imported.

Fresh grapes have been imported the most from India worth Rs. 2.13 billion and from China worth Rs. 21 million.

In terms of amount, there is no significant difference in the import of bananas last fiscal year and previous fiscal year. Around 66.20 million kgs of bananas worth Rs. 1.63 billion had been imported in the fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, the import of oranges has also decreased during the last fiscal year as compared to the previous fiscal year.

Oranges worth Rs. 881 million have been imported in the last fiscal year against the import worth Rs. 1.27 billion in the previous fiscal year 2021/22. In the last fiscal year, only 15.48 million kgs of oranges were imported while 23.08 million kgs were imported in the previous fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, pomegranates worth Rs. 934 million and lemons worth Rs. 712 million have been imported.

The country imported watermelons worth Rs. 689 million, litchis worth Rs. 23 million, papayas worth Rs. 309 million and pears worth Rs. 123 million during the last fiscal year.

According to the Department, kiwis worth Rs. 75 million and guavas and mangoes worth Rs. 700 million were imported.

Avocadoes worth Rs. 94 million, pineapples worth Rs. 136 million, strawberries worth Rs. 1.7 million have been imported in the last fiscal year.