According to traders, prices of dry fruits such as pistachio nut, cashew, almond, clove, walnut and date, among others, have increased over the past month. Traders say depreciation of Nepali rupee vis-à-vis US dollar and Chinese Yuan is also behind rise in dry fruit prices. [break]
Cashew nuts are presently selling at Rs 970 per kg, up by Rs 170 per kg compared to price recorded a month ago. Similarly, prices of pistachio nuts and almond have increased by Rs 400 and Rs 75 per kg, respectively, to Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,200 per kg. Price of clove has increased to Rs 1,600 per kg, up by Rs 400 per kg, while walnut is available at Rs 400 per kg up from Rs 350 per kg recorded a month ago. Dates have also become dearer by Rs 20 per kg and are selling at Rs 120 per kg.
Bibek Chaulagain, a dry fruits trader at Makhan, said dry fruits have become dearer in the market due to rise in customs valuation by the government. “Consumers are complaining of price rise, but there is nothing we can do. Price has increased because of the government decision,” he added.
Nepal is highly dependent on imports for dry fruits. While pistachio nuts come from the US and China, clove comes from countries like Indonesia, the US and Brazil, and cashew nuts come from India and Vietnam. Similarly, almond comes from India, the US and Australia, and walnut is imported from Kashmir, India. Dates are sourced from India and Pakistan.
Traders say price of black pepper may increase after Tihar as the supply of this spice from Singapore, Vietnam and India has fallen lately. Black pepper is currently available in the market at Rs 800 per kg.
The government recently raised customs valuation on items like juice, chocolates, biscuits, furniture, dry fruits, vehicles and spare parts.
The demand for dry fruits hits peak during Tihar festival which begins in two weeks.
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