Trade deficit at Rs 3bn

Itahari, December 24:

The country suffered a trade deficit of nearly Rs 3 billion in its trade with overseas countries via the eastern points during the first three months of the current fiscal year.

According to data available at the Biratnagar office of Trade Promotion Centre, Nepal exported

goods worth Rs 2.99 billion during the period while imports were well over Rs 5.86 billion. Frequent strikes and disruption of highways due to Koshi floods have been attributed to the deficit.

The biggest export via Biratnagar and Kakarvitta points during the period was pulses. Nearly 17,583 tonnes of pulses worth Rs 1.86 billion were exported during the period. The highest export was made to Bangladesh. Turkey, Egypt, USA, France, Japan, UK, Australia and Germany were other major export markets. Other main export items were wheat, readymade

garments, raw goatskins, maize, buffalo hides, wires, tea and galvanized tin.

Nepal’s major imports were machinery parts, raw jute, paper, chemicals, mustard seeds, coconut oil, soybean oil, polythene, clothes, electrical goods and entertainment goods.