Mobile phones worth Rs. 16.71 billion imported in six months

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 26: Mobile phones worth above Rs. 16 billion have been imported in the country during the first six months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, a total of 1,111,556 smartphones worth around Rs. 16.71 billion have been imported by mid-January of the current fiscal year. 

The government has collected revenue of Rs. 3.11 billion from the import of such number of mobile phones during the first six months of the current fiscal year.

The import of mobiles phones has increased during the review period as compared to same period last fiscal year 2023/24.

The import of mobiles phones has increased by 11 per cent during the first six months of the current fiscal year. A total of 1,015,286 smartphones worth Rs. 15.05 billion had been imported during the first six months of the last fiscal year. 

The government had collected revenue of Rs. 2.81 billion from the import of mobile during the first six months of the last fiscal year.

The country had imported 1,839,035 smartphones worth Rs. 28.66 billion during the last fiscal year 023/24. Revenue of Rs. 5.33 billion had been collected while importing 1,839,035 smartphones last fiscal year.

During the review period, smartphones are imported from 50 different countries. 

According to the Department, smartphones are imported from countries such as Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait and Luxembourg.

Similarly, the smartphones are imported from Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.

The largest number of smartphones are imported from China. A total of 859,425 smartphones worth Rs. 11.59 billion have been imported from China during the first six months of the current fiscal year. The government collected revenue of Rs. 2.16 billion while importing mobiles from China only.

In addition, the data shows that the second largest number of imports came from India. A total of 248,171 phones worth Rs. 4.82 billion imported from India and the government collected revenue of Rs. 899 million. 

Similarly, a total of 1,026 smartphones worth Rs. 1.1 million have been imported from Viet Nam, 667 smartphones worth Rs. 79.26 million from United States and 605 smartphones worth Rs. 47.49 million have been imported from Japan.

A total of 262 smartphones worth Rs. 19.63 million from Republic of Korea, 145 mobiles worth Rs. 17.71 million from Qatar and 95 smartphones worth Rs. 1.52 million have been imported from Kuwait during the first six months of the current fiscal year.

Similarly, during the same period, a total of 104 smartphones worth Rs. 11 million have been imported from United Kingdom and 97 smartphones worth Rs. 8.2 million from Hong Kong.