Nepal exported edible oils worth Rs 63 billion in 11 months

08-Jul-2025 05:27 PM

Kathmandu. Although Nepal’s export income from edible oils increased significantly during the first 11 months of the current financial year, exporters did not derive substantial profit because an almost equal value of crude edible oils was imported for refining and re-export.

According to data from the Birgunj Customs Office, between mid-July 2024 and mid-June 2025, Nepal imported crude soybean oil worth Rs 52.58 billion and exported refined soybean oil worth Rs 55.03 billion.

In contrast, during the same period of the previous financial year, crude soybean oil imports stood at only Rs 7.37 billion.

The surge in imports this year was primarily driven by access to the vast Indian market, which accepts edible oil imports from Nepal duty-free.

In the case of sunflower oil, export earnings increased notably, but the overall trade remained in deficit due to higher import costs. Crude sunflower oil worth Rs 9.75 billion was imported, while refined sunflower oil worth Rs 8.40 billion was exported during the same period.

According to official sources, Nepal’s edible oil trade through the border route has not yielded significant real profits because the country has negligible oilseed production.

Most of the business involves importing crude oil, refining it, and exporting the finished product, which incurs substantial processing and import costs.