Kathmandu-Nepal exported goods worth Rs 248.96 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.

According to the Department of Customs, exports from Shrawan to Baishakh increased by 14 percent compared to the same period last year. During the same period last fiscal year, Nepal had exported goods worth Rs 217 billion.

Soybean oil remained Nepal’s largest export item. In the 10-month period, soybean oil worth Rs 101.26 billion was exported to India. Likewise, cardamom worth Rs 11 billion was also exported to India.

Sunflower oil ranked as the third-largest export item. Among these top three exports, only cardamom is domestically produced in Nepal.

Only the final-stage processing of edible oils is carried out in Nepal, while India has been strategically utilising Nepal’s oil exports.

Palm oil ranked fourth among Nepal’s top export products, while carpets came fifth.

During the same period, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1.692 trillion, which is also 14 percent higher compared to last year. Officials said the import bill increased mainly due to rising prices rather than higher demand.

Diesel was the most imported product, with imports worth Rs 130 billion. Crude soybean oil imports stood at Rs 106 billion, followed by petrol worth Rs 58 billion, steel worth Rs 48 billion, and cooking gas worth Rs 46 billion.

Overall foreign trade increased by 14 percent during the 10-month period, while the trade deficit also widened by 14 percent.