Mobile phone imports surged last month as demand increased in the lead-up to the general election scheduled for March 5.
According to records from the Department of Customs (DoC), Nepal imported 162,000 mobile phones worth Rs 3.38 billion between mid-January and mid-February. This represents a 49 percent rise compared to the 118,000 units valued at Rs 2.26 billion imported during the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Data further show that in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported 1.414 million mobile phones at a total customs value of Rs 26.68 billion. In contrast, during the corresponding period last year, the country brought in just over 1.22 million units worth Rs 18.93 billion, indicating a notable increase in spending.
During the seven-month period of the ongoing fiscal year, the government collected Rs 4.97 billion in customs revenue from mobile phone imports. Importers are subject to a 13 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and a 5.65 percent excise duty on mobile devices.
