Nepal's Agri-Food Imports Surge 47% to Rs 87.10 Billion in First Two Months of FY 2026/27
Nepal's imports of agricultural and food products jumped 47% year-on-year to Rs 87.10 billion in the first two months of FY 2026/27, driven largely by a near-doubling of vegetable and animal fats and oils imports. While staple grain imports declined, edible oil, oilseeds, vegetables, and live animal imports all rose sharply.
KATHMANDU, Sept 26 — Nepal's imports of agricultural and food products surged in the first two months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27, climbing to Rs 87.10 billion from Rs 59.18 billion in the same period last fiscal year — a jump of 47 percent, according to records from the Department of Customs (DoC).
The increase amounted to an additional Rs 27.92 billion in import expenditure on major agricultural commodities.
Edible Oils and Oilseeds Drive the Surge
The largest expense came from imports of vegetable and animal fats and oils, which nearly doubled to Rs 48.57 billion from Rs 27.41 billion a year earlier.
Imports of oilseeds, legumes, industrial and medicinal plants, and fodder tripled, rising to Rs 8.86 billion from Rs 2.73 billion during mid-July to mid-September of the previous year.
Import pressure also intensified in vegetables and root products, which rose 43 percent to Rs 7.93 billion from Rs 5.53 billion.
Staples and Fruits See Declines
By contrast, imports of major food staples — paddy, rice, maize, and wheat — fell to Rs 6.03 billion from Rs 8.79 billion, a decline of Rs 2.76 billion.
Imports of fruits and dry fruits, including walnuts and almonds, edged down slightly to Rs 5.59 billion from Rs 5.64 billion.
Live Animals and Meat Imports Climb
DoC records show a notable rise in live animal imports:
- Live animals: from Rs 14.1 million to Rs 90.4 million
- Meat: from Rs 649,000 to Rs 3.23 million
- Fish and aquatic products: from Rs 159.1 million to Rs 239.6 million
Dairy Declines on Domestic Self-Sufficiency
Imports of dairy products, eggs, and natural honey fell sharply, with dairy products dropping to Rs 69.9 million from Rs 155.9 million — a decline attributed to domestic self-sufficiency in the segment.
Imports of tea, coffee, and spices slipped modestly to Rs 2.03 billion from Rs 2.17 billion. Nepal exported these goods worth Rs 3.04 billion, securing a trade surplus of around Rs 1 billion in this category.