In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY), Nepal imported goods worth Rs 434.26 billion through the Birgunj Customs Office, one of the country’s busiest trade gateways. Of this, a dominant 76.80%—Rs 333.84 billion—was sourced from India, reaffirming India’s position as Nepal’s closest trading partner via this route.
Key Highlights:
- India: Rs 333.84 billion (76.80% of total imports via Birgunj)
- Argentina: Rs 46.74 billion (8.27%) – second-largest import source
- China: Rs 28.86 billion (1.22%)
In total, Rs 565.42 billion worth of goods were imported from 50 countries through Birgunj during the review period, according to Deepak Lamichhane, Chief Customs Officer at the Birgunj Customs Office.
Exports via Birgunj:
- Total exports: Rs 91.51 billion
- Exports to India: Rs 86.97 billion (95.05%)
- Exports to the U.S.: Rs 2.18 billion (2.38%)
- Exports to Afghanistan: Rs 680 million
India also remained the leading export destination, accounting for the vast majority of Nepal’s outward trade via Birgunj.
The data underscores the strategic importance of Birgunj customs in facilitating bilateral trade with India and its growing role in connecting Nepal with global markets like Argentina and the U.S., despite trade volume disparities.
