Cement export from Kakarbhitta encouraging

By Our Correspondent,Birtamod, Aug. 27: The export of Nepali cement through the Kakarbhitta border has been encouraging. 

Various brands of cement have been exported to India through this border since the last fiscal year.

According to the Mechi Customs Office, Jhapa, cement worth Rs. 320 million was exported through Kakarbhitta border point in the fiscal year 2023/24.

Information officer of Mechi Customs Office, Jhapa, Ganapati Kandel said the export of Nepali cement through this border started last year.  

Earlier, no cement was exported through this border. 

In the fiscal year 2023/24, 49,959 tonnes of cement worth Rs. 326 million was exported.

Businessmen said that the demand for Nepali cement in India is satisfactory due to its quality.

They said that cement export could not continue as Nepal had to import raw materials, including clinker from India. 

According to the businessman, with the availability of clinker in Nepal, the export of cement has started to increase in recent years.

They said that they are excited because the government has arranged the provision to provide an 8 per cent export subsidy to increase cement exports.

Although cement worth millions of rupees is exported through the Kakarbhitta border, the cement produced in Jhapa is enough to meet only the local demands.  

Many cement industries in Jhapa are currently closed. At one time there were more than a dozen cement industries in Jhapa, but now the factories of only  Kanchanjunga, Megha, Mansa, Gorkhali and Century Cement are in production. 

Businessmen said that after the quality of Nepali cement was maintained, the environment for its export was favourable.

Even though the Nepali brand has been established in India, the cement produced in Jhapa has not been exported abroad, they said.

According to the Department of Customs, cement and clinker worth Rs. 3.85 billion have been exported during the last fiscal year 2023/24.

The country had exported 11 tonnes of cement worth Rs. 83,000 in the fiscal year 2020/21 and 15,189 tonnes worth Rs. 1.29 million in the fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, the country exported cement and clinkers worth Rs. 779 million in the fiscal year 2022/23.

According to businessmen, the Nepali brands of cement, including Tansen, Arghakhanchi, Balaji, Sarbottam and CG cement are being exported to India.