Nepal’s Top 10 Import Items: Billions Spent in Just Two Months

Kathmandu – In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2082/83 (July–September 2025), Nepal imported goods and services worth over Rs. 305 billion. According to the Department of Customs, imports grew by more than 16% compared to the same period last year. Among these, the top 10 import items alone account for the largest share, highlighting Nepal’s heavy reliance on certain goods.

Petroleum Products Lead the Chart

The highest import share belongs to mineral fuels, petroleum products, and related oils. In just two months, Nepal imported goods worth over Rs. 45.39 billion under this category. Petroleum products remain the single largest driver of Nepal’s import bill, exerting constant pressure on foreign currency reserves.

Edible Oils in Second Place

The second-highest import is animal and vegetable oils and fats, amounting to nearly Rs. 27.41 billion. Despite domestic edible oil industries being active, the large volume of imports shows that these industries remain heavily dependent on imported raw materials.

Iron, Steel, and Machinery

Iron and steel stand in third place with imports worth Rs. 22.97 billion, largely driven by growing demand in construction and infrastructure projects.

At fourth and fifth positions are electrical machinery and equipment (Rs. 22.16 billion) and machinery and mechanical appliances (Rs. 21.18 billion). While vital for industrial and technological development, such large-scale imports also fuel the widening trade deficit.

Vehicles and Fertilizers

In sixth place are vehicles and parts, with Nepal spending more than Rs. 17.22 billion in just two months. This reflects Nepal’s growing dependency on foreign automobiles.

Fertilizers take the seventh spot with imports of around Rs. 16.17 billion. Heavy reliance on imported fertilizers underscores the challenges in Nepal’s agricultural sector.

Other Key Items

Completing the top 10 are plastics and plastic products (Rs. 11.78 billion), pharmaceutical products (Rs. 7.1 billion), and cereals (Rs. 8.79 billion). These categories cover both industrial and consumer needs but add further weight to Nepal’s growing trade imbalance.

The dominance of petroleum, edible oils, iron and steel, machinery, vehicles, and fertilizers in the import list shows how Nepal’s economy is tied to a handful of essential goods. Experts warn that unless Nepal invests in alternative energy, local industrial capacity, and self-reliance in agriculture, the trade deficit will continue to worsen in the coming years.