KATHMANDU, Dec 25: Apple imports have seen a decline of 12.27 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, with 5.07 million fewer kilograms imported compared to the same period last year.
A total of 36.273 million kg of apples, worth Rs 3.73 billion, were imported in the first five months, as per the Department of Customs. In contrast, 41.349 million kg worth Rs 4.8 billion were imported during the same period last year.
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Traders attribute the decrease in imports to the floods and landslides in the last week of September which led to the closure of the Rasuwa and Tatopani border crossings with China for a month.
Likewise, while apples are now being imported from China, domestic apple production has also contributed to the decline in imports. Apples grown in districts like Manang, Mustang, Humla, Jumla, and Dolpa are now available in the market, which has reduced the need for imports.
Nepal's apple production lasts only four months a year, leading traders to rely on imports from India and China. Chinese apples are available throughout the year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the annual turnover of apples in Nepal is around Rs 9 billion.
