Nepal's paddy and rice imports have surged significantly by 54% in the first five months of the 2024-25 financial year compared to the same period last year, as reported by the Customs Department. The total cost of these imports rose from NPR 8.28 billion to NPR 12.78 billion.

Breaking down the imports:

• Paddy imports increased by 48%, with Nepal importing 163,701 tonnes, worth NPR 6.05 billion, compared to 110,555 tonnes worth NPR 4.09 billion last year.
• Rice imports saw a 60% increase, reaching 79,411 tonnes, valued at NPR 6.73 billion, up from 42,152 tonnes worth NPR 4.19 billion.

In contrast, maize imports decreased by around 12%, from 120,129 tonnes to 105,700 tonnes. However, the expenditure on maize rose from NPR 4.95 billion to NPR 5.36 billion.

While Nepal also imports smaller quantities of wheat, barley, and millets, the vast majority of its paddy and rice imports come from neighboring India, where these commodities are cheaper. The close proximity of the two countries and the use of road trade across shared land borders facilitate these imports.