Potato and Onion Imports Double in Volume This Fiscal Year

In the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2082/83, Nepal’s imports of potatoes and onions reached 434,358 tons. Potato imports increased by 53,000 tons to 292,935 tons, while onion imports nearly doubled to 141,422 tons. Revenue collected from potato and onion imports amounted to NPR 702.154 million and NPR 522.036 million respectively this year. Kathmandu, 7th Baisakh.

From Shrawan to Chaitra, potatoes and onions worth NPR 1.287764 billion were imported in total quantity of 434,358 tons. During the same period last fiscal year 2081/82, imports amounted to NPR 915.8036 million for 312,903 tons of potatoes and onions. Last year, import duties on potatoes and onions generated NPR 1.7497 billion in revenue, whereas this year the collection stood at NPR 1.2241 billion.

According to Customs Department data, in the current nine months, potatoes worth NPR 781.165 million were imported, totaling 292,935 tons. In the same period last year, NPR 620.9136 million worth 239,557 tons of potatoes were imported. Thus, potato import volume increased by 53,000 tons. The government collected NPR 1.154046 billion in revenue from potato imports during the previous year, while this year the revenue decreased to NPR 702.154 million.

Similarly, onion imports have also seen a significant rise. Last year, 73,345 tons of onions were imported in nine months; this year, the figure nearly doubled to 141,422 tons. Expenditure on onion imports increased from NPR 312.89 million last year to NPR 579.6475 million this year. Revenue from onion imports decreased from NPR 595.715 million last year to NPR 522.036 million this year.