Kathmandu, November 1
Birgunj customs point accounted for nearly half of Nepal’s total imports in the first three months of the current fiscal year, handling goods worth more than Rs 312 billion as trade remained heavily concentrated along the country’s southern border with India.
According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 646 billion through 28 customs points, including Tribhuvan International Airport, during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026/27, covering mid-July to mid-October.
Birgunj alone accounted for 48.30 per cent of the total, with imports worth Rs 312.40 billion passing through the customs point. The route handles a large share of Nepal’s petroleum imports and also accounts for a significant portion of the country’s exports.
Of the total exports worth Rs 114 billion recorded during the period, goods worth Rs 47.92 billion were exported through Birgunj.
The concentration of trade through Indian border points has increased as disruptions to northern trade routes have affected cross-border commerce with China. The floods of August 26 restricted Nepal-China trade to the Mustang crossing. That route was also affected by flooding in the Kaligandaki River, further shifting trade towards border points along the Indian frontier.
Bhairahawa was the second-largest entry point for imports, accounting for goods worth Rs 98.81 billion, or 15.28 per cent of the total. Biratnagar ranked third, with imports worth Rs 78.33 billion, representing 12.11 per cent.
Tribhuvan International Airport accounted for imports worth Rs 51.62 billion, or 7.98 per cent of the total.
Other customs points handled considerably smaller volumes. Nepalgunj recorded imports worth Rs 23.91 billion during the three-month period, while Mustang handled goods worth Rs 22.03 billion and Mechi Rs 21.40 billion.
Trade activity at the Chobhar dry port has also declined following the disruption at the Rasuwagadhi border crossing caused by floods. Only Rs 4.14 billion worth of goods were imported through the Chobhar customs point during the first quarter.
