Nepal Export Analysis: Refined Oil Shines, While Large Cardamom and Spices Slip

10-Jun-2025 12:20 PM

Nepal Export Analysis: Refined Oil Shines, While Large Cardamom and Spices Slip

★ Period: July 2024 – May 2025 (First Ten Months)

★ Refined Edible Oils (Soybean, Sunflower, Palm Oil)

★ Export Volume: 430,504 tonnes

★ Surge driven by India’s earlier 20% customs duty on crude edible oils, making Nepal’s refined oil exports more competitive.

★ Update: On May 30, India reduced the duty on crude oils to 10%, which could slow Nepal's exports in the coming months.

Spices

Export Volume: 4,444 tonnes

Growth: 4.8%

Large Cardamom

Export Volume: 3,686 tonnes

Decline: -3.6%

Conclusion:

★ While refined oil exports have significantly boosted Nepal’s total earnings, the decline in core domestic products like spices and large cardamom raises concerns about the sustainability and structure of Nepal’s export economy.