Fruits worth Rs. 9.65 billion imported in seven months

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 3: The import of fruits has increased significantly during the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. According to the trade statistics of the Department of Customs, fruits worth Rs. 9.65 billion have been imported during the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

The country has imported fruits, including apple, banana, pomegranate, guava, mangoes, oranges, grapes and papayas, among others, worth Rs. 9.65 billion during the review period. The country had imported fruits worth Rs. 7.03 billion during the first seven months of the last fiscal year 2022/23. The statistics showed that the import of fruits is 37 per cent higher during the review period as compared to same period of last fiscal year.

The fruits worth Rs. 15.16 billion had been imported in the last fiscal year 2022/23, worth Rs. 17.46 billion in the 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. 

Apple worth Rs. 5.03 billion imported 

Among the fruits imported, apple imports was the highest during the review period. The share of apple in the total fruits import crossed above at 50 per cent. According to the Department, about 50,342 tonnes of apples worth Rs. 5.03 billion were imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. From that, the government has collected revenue equal to Rs. 1.29 million.

The import of apples has increased by 29 per cent during the review period as compared to corresponding period last fiscal year. Apples worth Rs. 3.9 billion had been imported during the first seven months of the last fiscal year 2022/23. Most of the apples come from China, followed by India, Switzerland and America.

In the last fiscal year, the second most imported item is banana while the third is pomegranate. The country has spent Rs. 901 million for the import of banana and Rs. 699 million for the import of pomegranate during the review period. During the review period, 21,513,441 kg of banana and 5,990,109 kg pomegranate has been imported. The import of banana has increased by threefold during the review period as compared to the same period last fiscal year. 

In the first seven months of the last fiscal year 2022/23, 19,407,158 kg of banana worth Rs. 312 million was imported. Similarly, the import of oranges has also increased during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared to the same period last fiscal year.

The oranges worth Rs. 721 million have been imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year against the imports worth Rs. 466 million in the corresponding period last year. Around 10,551,300 kg of oranges were imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, while 8,155,509 kg was imported in the corresponding period last fiscal year 2022/23.

The country imported watermelons worth Rs. 132 million, avocados worth Rs. 17 million, papayas worth Rs. 124 million and pears worth Rs. 210 million during the first seven months of the current fiscal year. According to the Department, kiwis worth Rs. 88 million and guavas and mangoes worth Rs. 385 million and lemons worth Rs. 737 million have been imported during the review period.