Key Takeaways:
- Zhangmu Port closed indefinitely, customs operations suspended, staff relocated
- Closure follows Rasuwagadhi flood damage and Tatopani's limited reopening
- 60 fruit containers worth Rs400m stranded in Nyalam and Tingri for 45 days
- Traders warn closure could push up prices ahead of Dashain-Tihar market
Nepal's trade route with China has suffered another setback, with China indefinitely closing Zhangmu Port opposite the Tatopani border point amid concerns over possible flooding in the Bhotekoshi River.
The closure comes after the Rasuwagadhi border route was hit by a devastating flood and just days after Tatopani had resumed limited cargo movement following a prolonged disruption. With both northern routes facing problems, Nepal's options for overland trade with China have narrowed further ahead of the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
According to Tatopani Customs Office official Tul Bahadur Pandey, China informed Nepal by email that Zhangmu Port had been temporarily closed and that another notice would be issued when it reopens. Customs operations and cargo movement have been suspended, and Chinese administrative personnel have been shifted to safer areas.
The decision may have been prompted by concerns that the Bhotekoshi River could face flooding similar to the recent disaster in Rasuwa, Pandey said. The closure follows an earlier decision to stop sending containers for several days due to construction work in Khasa until September 3.
Tatopani itself had only recently reopened after landslides along the 26-km Bahrabise–Kodari section of the Arniko Highway halted transport from July 15. Repairs allowed eight containers to enter Nepal on August 28.
The latest closure has again left cargo carriers stranded on the Chinese side. Containers destined for Nepal are currently being held in Nyalam, while employees of Chinese transport companies face prolonged work stoppages.
The impact is particularly significant for fruit imports. Around 60 containers carrying fruits worth Rs400 million have been stranded in Nyalam and Tingri for 45 days, according to Sujit Basnet, vice-president of the Nepal Himalayan Trans-Himalayan Commerce Association. He said the fruits are being kept in refrigerated containers and remain safe for now, but prolonged delays could increase costs due to parking charges, eventually pushing up prices in Nepal.
Importers warn that bringing in fruits targeted for the Dashain-Tihar market could become increasingly difficult if the border remains closed. With Zhangmu now shut, traders say the latest development could further disrupt Nepal-China trade at a crucial time of the year.