KATHMANDU, June 23: Nepal imported petroleum products worth Rs 296.44 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, accounting for 15.65 percent of the country’s total imports valued at Rs 1.894 trillion.
According to the Department of Customs (DoC), diesel, petrol, and cooking gas ranked among the top five imports, with combined purchases amounting to Rs 272.38 billion. Diesel alone topped the list, with imports worth Rs 152 billion and a total volume of 1.264 million kiloliters.
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Crude soybean oil was the second-largest import, with 726.4 million liters worth Rs 119.63 billion brought in between mid-July 2025 and mid-June 2026. Petrol followed in third place, with 685,000 kiloliters worth Rs 68.17 billion. Sponge iron ranked fourth at Rs 53.69 billion for 1.22 billion kilograms, while cooking gas stood fifth at Rs 52.21 billion for 475.9 million kilograms.
Smartphones also featured prominently, with imports worth Rs 43.45 billion for 2.041 million units. Other major imports included gold (Rs 25.78 billion), medicines (Rs 24.71 billion), aviation fuel (Rs 24.06 billion), chemical fertilizer (DAP) worth Rs 20.97 billion, and paddy worth Rs 17.23 billion.
Compared to the same period last fiscal year, imports of diesel, soybean oil, petrol, sponge iron, and smartphones all rose significantly. Diesel imports increased from Rs 115 billion, soybean oil from Rs 95 billion, and smartphones from Rs 32 billion.
Overall, Nepal’s trade deficit widened by 15 percent to Rs 1.616 trillion. While imports grew 15.16 percent to Rs 1.894 trillion, exports rose 12.28 percent to Rs 277.96 billion.
