Fruit imports up 20% to Rs. 8.57B in five months

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 2: The import of fruits increased significantly during the first five months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.

According to trade statistics of the Department of Customs, based on the first five months of the current fiscal year, the country imported fruits—including apples, bananas, mangoes, oranges, guavas, grapes, pomegranates, lemons and papayas—worth Rs. 8.57 billion during the review period of the current fiscal year.

The import of fruits increased by 20 per cent in terms of value compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. 

Fruits worth Rs. 7.18 billion had been imported during the first five months of the previous fiscal year.

Fruits worth Rs. 21.17 billion imported in the last fiscal year 2024/25 while it was limited at Rs. 19.57 billion in the fiscal year 2023/24 and Rs. 16.16 billion in the fiscal year 2022/23.

Among the imported fruits, apples accounted for the highest share during the review period. 

According to the Department, about 38,293 tonnes of apples worth Rs. 4.24 billion were imported during the first five months of the current fiscal year. From this, the government collected revenue amounting to Rs. 418 million.

Apples alone accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the total fruit imports. 

With the import of apples being the highest amount, its import has also increased during the review period as compared to corresponding period last fiscal year. 

About 36,273 tonnes of apples worth Rs. 3.73 billion imported during the first five months of the last fiscal year 2024/25.

Similarly, the country has imported banana worth Rs. 765 million during the first five months of the current fiscal year.

According to the statistics, around 19,430 tonnes of banana have been imported during the review period.  

During the review period, the grapes, including dried, worth Rs. 664 million have been imported during the first five months of the current fiscal year.

Similarly, around 4,377 tonnes of oranges worth Rs. 308 million have been imported during the review period. 

During the review period, around 5,898 tonnes of mangoes worth Rs. 434 million, around 3,540 tonnes of lemons worth Rs. 319 million and around 1,395 tonnes of guavas worth Rs. 100 million have been imported. 

Likewise, pears worth Rs. 288 million, pomegranate worth Rs. 559 million, kiwi worth Rs. 49 million have been imported.

The country imported watermelon worth Rs. 107 million and papaya worth Rs. 144 million during review period.