Kathmandu, October 30
With Tihar just a week to 10 days away, the festive mood has already spread from cities to villages across Nepal.
Alongside colourful lights and the fragrance of marigolds and globe amaranths, one of the festival’s most familiar traditions is the exchange of bhai masala — packets of dry fruits and nuts presented by sisters to their brothers on Bhai Tika.
The packets typically contain cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dates, coconuts, figs and other dried fruits. The tradition has been practised for decades, but Nepal remains heavily dependent on foreign markets to sustain it.
The latest data from the Department of Customs show that Nepal imported dry fruits worth more than Rs 3 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2083/84, covering Shrawan, Bhadra and Asoj.
Billions of rupees worth of dry fruits imported before Tihar
Imports of walnuts, cashews and almonds alone exceeded Rs 1.5 billion during the first quarter. When other products, including areca nuts, coconuts, figs, raisins and roasted nuts, are included, the total value of dry fruit imports rises above Rs 3 billion.
Compared with the same period last fiscal year, imports of most major dry fruits increased significantly in both volume and value.
Traders brought in substantially larger quantities in Asoj, the month leading up to Tihar, than in the preceding two months, reflecting the seasonal demand for festive gifts and household consumption.
China and Chile supply Nepal’s walnuts
Imports of walnuts in their shells accounted for a substantial share of the trade. Nepal imported 1.45 million kilograms of these walnuts during the first three months of the current fiscal year, paying Rs 573.337 million. The government collected Rs 139.368 million in revenue from the imports.
During the same period last year, imports stood at 1.434 million kilograms.
China dominates Nepal’s walnut supply. Of the walnuts imported in their shells during the first quarter of the previous fiscal year, 1.282 million kilograms came from China.
Chile, in South America, was the second-largest supplier, exporting 151,225 kilograms to Nepal during that period.
Other suppliers included India, which sent 901 kilograms, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 47 kilograms, Qatar with 26 kilograms, Saudi Arabia with five kilograms and Malaysia with two kilograms.
Imports of shelled walnuts also increased. Nepal brought in 74,051 kilograms during the first three months of the current fiscal year, worth more than Rs 80.6 million. In the corresponding period last year, the country imported around 18,000 kilograms, all from China.
American almonds find their way into Nepali households
Almonds are another high-value dry fruit in Nepal’s festive market.
During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported 506,079 kilograms of shelled almonds worth Rs 476.81 million. In the same period last year, imports totalled 402,368 kilograms.
The United States is Nepal’s largest supplier of almonds. Data for the first quarter of the previous fiscal year show that 398,212 kilograms out of nearly 400,000 kilograms of imported almonds came from the US.
India was the second-largest supplier, exporting 2,625 kilograms. Other sources included Saudi Arabia, with 598 kilograms; Kuwait, 479 kilograms; Qatar, 272 kilograms; the UAE, 130 kilograms; Bahrain, 29 kilograms; China, 11 kilograms; and Oman, 11 kilograms.
Nepal also imported one kilogram of almonds from Cameroon and two kilograms from Malaysia, illustrating the broad international network supplying the domestic market.
Vietnam and India lead Nepal’s cashew supply
Cashews are widely used in both sweets and bhai masala packets. Nepal imported 469,416 kilograms of shelled cashews worth Rs 465.678 million between Shrawan and Asoj this fiscal year.
Imports during the same period last year stood at 409,913 kilograms.
Vietnam was the largest supplier during the first quarter of the previous fiscal year, exporting 208,674 kilograms to Nepal. India ranked second with 156,021 kilograms.
Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa, was the third-largest supplier, accounting for 30,000 kilograms. China supplied 9,089 kilograms, while Venezuela exported 5,148 kilograms.
Nepal also imported cashews from several Gulf countries, including Qatar, which supplied 509 kilograms; the UAE, 199 kilograms; Kuwait, 124 kilograms; Saudi Arabia, 93 kilograms; and Bahrain, 24 kilograms.
Growing demand for roasted and salted nuts
Nepali consumers are increasingly opting for roasted and salted cashews and pistachios rather than raw varieties. These ready-to-eat products, sold in packaged form, generally command higher prices.
During the first three months of the current fiscal year, Vietnam was the largest supplier of roasted cashews, exporting 19,000 kilograms worth more than Rs 26.1 million.
India supplied 14,919 kilograms, followed by China with 11,600 kilograms, the UAE with 6,237 kilograms and Thailand with 372 kilograms.
China dominated the market for roasted and salted pistachios. Nepal imported 87,658 kilograms from China during the first quarter, worth Rs 115.6 million.
Indonesia supplied 11,201 kilograms, followed by the United States with 7,938 kilograms, India with 2,265 kilograms and Thailand with 227 kilograms.
Imports of raw shelled pistachios were much lower, at just 1,936 kilograms. Nepal also imported 316 kilograms of roasted almonds from India and 120 kilograms from Thailand.
Areca nuts, coconuts and figs add to the import bill
Beyond walnuts, almonds, cashews and pistachios, Nepal also imports substantial quantities of other products commonly included in festive gift packets.
During the first three months of the current fiscal year, the country imported 3.24 million kilograms of areca nuts worth Rs 847.7 million.
Imports of dried coconuts reached 836,000 kilograms, valued at Rs 215.9 million. The country also imported 1,412 kilograms of dried dates and 678 kilograms of fresh dates. Fig imports exceeded 45,000 kilograms.
Despite being an agriculture-based country, Nepal continues to rely heavily on foreign suppliers for many dry fruits consumed during festivals. Limited commercial production of products such as walnuts and almonds, despite potentially suitable climatic conditions in some parts of the country, leaves the domestic market dependent on imports during periods of peak demand.
