KATHMANDU: Nepal’s trade report for the first eight months of the fiscal year 2081/82 reveals notable shifts in the country’s economic situation.

The trade deficit, which reflects the gap between imports and exports, has widened by about 6.22%.

During this period, imports grew by approximately 11.20%, reaching around Rs. 11.45 Kharba, up from Rs. 10.30 Kharba in the same period last year.

Key imports include mineral fuels, iron and steel, electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, and vehicles, signaling changes in domestic demand and industrial needs.

On the flip side, Nepal’s exports have surged to Rs. 1.58 Kharba by the end of Falgun, driven largely by products like coffee, tea, spices, carpets, and man-made staple fibers.

This marks a remarkable 57.20% increase from the previous year, when exports totaled Rs. 1 Kharba, indicating a positive shift in the nation’s trade performance.