Fruit imports surge to Rs. 21B in 10 months

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, June 8: Nepal’s fruit imports increased significantly during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, reaching around Rs. 21 billion. According to the trade statistics of the Department of Customs, the country imported fruits including apples, bananas, mangoes, oranges, guavas, grapes, pomegranates, lemons and papayas worth Rs. 21 billion during the review period. 

This is 20.3 per cent higher in value compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Fruits worth Rs. 17.42 billion were imported during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2024/25. 

Total fruit imports stood at Rs. 21.17 billion in the last fiscal year, compared to Rs. 19.57 billion in 2023/24 and Rs. 16.16 billion in 2022/23. The government collected revenue of Rs. 2.36 billion from fruit imports during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.

Apple worth Rs. 11.14 billion imported

Among imported fruits, apples accounted for the highest share, contributing more than 53 per cent of total fruit imports. According to the Department, the country imported around 87,647 tonnes of apples worth Rs. 11.14 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, generating Rs. 1.10 billion in revenue for the government.

Apple imports increased by 23 per cent in value compared to the same period last fiscal year, when the country had imported 75,201 tonnes worth Rs. 8.56 billion. Most apples were imported from China, followed by India. 

During the review period, around 70,932 tonnes of apples worth Rs. 9.8 billion were imported from China and 16,714 tonnes worth Rs. 1.34 billion from India.

Banana import drops

Meanwhile, banana imports declined sharply following a government-imposed ban aimed at preventing the spread of the TR-4 (Panama) disease, considered a major threat to banana farming.

The country imported bananas worth Rs. 765 million during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, with total imports amounting to around 19,441 tonnes. In comparison, the country had imported 46,588 tonnes worth Rs. 1.89 billion during the same period last fiscal year.

However, about 63,714 tonnes of bananas worth Rs. 2.65 billion had been imported in 2023/24. The ban on banana imports from India was imposed by the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre on September 18, 2025, following recommendations from farmers over concerns of the spread of TR-4 disease.

Due to reduced supply, banana prices surged to as high as Rs. 400 per dozen in the Kathmandu Valley a month ago. Similarly, around 16,725 tonnes of orange worth Rs. 1.15 billion have been imported during the review period. 

The import of orange has slightly increased during the review period as compared to same period last fiscal year. The country had imported 15,856 tonnes of orange worth Rs. 1.11 million during the first 10 months of the last fiscal year 2024/25.

The grapes, including dried and fresh worth Rs. 2.58 billion, were imported during the review period of the current fiscal year. About 16,893 tonnes of fresh grapes worth Rs. 1.41 billion and 3,172 tonnes of dried grapes worth Rs. 1.17 billion were imported during the review period.

Likewise, about 9,619 tonnes of pomegranate worth Rs. 1.09 billion, 7,121 tonnes of mangoes worth Rs. 506 million and lemon worth Rs. 707 million have been imported.

Similarly, guavas worth Rs. 194 million, avocadoes worth Rs. 32 million, pineapples worth Rs. 127 million and strawberries worth Rs. 3.3 million were imported during the review period of the current fiscal year.

Additionally, the country imported watermelons worth Rs. 758 million, kiwis worth Rs. 73 million, papayas worth Rs. 355 million and pears worth Rs. 467 million during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.