Goods worth over Rs. 44 billion imported from 18 countries

By Our Correspondent,Nepalgunj, Mar. 3: Goods worth above Rs. 44 billion were imported from 18 different countries through the Nepalgunj Customs Office during the first seven months of the current 2025/26.

According to Chief Customs Officer Janardan Poudel, goods worth Rs. 44.54 billion were imported from 18 countries, including India, during the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

He said that the highest volume of imports came from neighbouring India alone, amounting to Rs. 41.05 billion.

As per the Nepalgunj Customs Office, goods worth Rs. 2.52 billion were imported from China through the Nepalgunj border point during the review period. 

In addition to India and China, goods were also imported from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, the United States, Denmark, Spain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and other countries.

During the first seven months of the current fiscal year, exports from Nepal were made to only two countries. 

According to statistics, goods worth Rs. 1.63 billion were exported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

Of this, goods worth Rs. 1.63 billion were exported to India, goods worth Rs. 1.5 million to the United Arab Emirates.

Poudel said that the trade deficit at the Nepalgunj Customs Office stood at 96.41 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

In the same period of the previous fiscal year, the trade deficit was 96.42 per cent.

Similarly, the Nepalgunj Customs Office has collected only 45 per cent of its revenue target in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

For fiscal year 2025/26, the annual revenue target has been set at Rs. 24.54 billion. By mid-February, revenue of Rs. 11.04 billion has been collected. This is only 45.01 per cent of the target.

According to him, there is a challenge to collect 55 per cent of the revenue in the remaining five months to meet the target. 

As per the monthly target of the Customs Office, revenue has not been collected in any month so far.

In fiscal year 2024/25, the Nepalgunj Customs Office collected 74.64 per cent of its revenue target, while in fiscal year 2023/24, it collected 63.35 per cent.

Although the operation of the Integrated Check Post at Jamunaha on the Nepal–India border was expected to boost imports, exports, and customs revenue, the revenue targets have not been met in recent years, said Poudel.

He added that during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, revenue collection has increased by more than Rs. 92.4 million compared to the same period last fiscal year. 

Despite falling short of the target, revenue collection is on an upward trend.