In the initial four months of the fiscal year 2024/25, fruit imports into the country totaled approximately $72.6 million (Rs. 6.03 billion). This figure encompasses a variety of fruits such as bananas, apples, guavas, mangoes, oranges, grapes, papaya, and pomegranates. Data from the Department of Customs indicates that this amount is comparable to the fruit imports during the same period in the previous fiscal year, which stood at approximately $74.7 million (Rs. 6.2 billion). Over the past years, the expenditure on fruit imports has been significant, with $235.6 million (Rs. 19.57 billion) spent in fiscal year 2023/24 and $194.8 million (Rs. 16.16 billion) in 2022/23.
Apples have constituted the bulk of these imports, accounting for 49% of the total fruit import volume, with approximately 29.5 million kg valued at $35.5 million (Rs. 2.95 billion). This import volume has generated revenue of $7.1 million (Rs. 590 million) for the government. Despite apples being the most imported fruit, there has been a reduction in their import volume compared to the previous year, which saw 33.34 million kg worth $39.2 million (Rs. 3.26 billion). China and India are the primary sources of these apple imports, with 19.1 million kg and 9.7 million kg imported from each country, respectively.
The importation of bananas has shown an increase, with around 14.73 million kg worth $7.4 million (Rs. 614 million) imported, surpassing the previous year's 13.6 million kg worth $6.9 million (Rs. 574 million). Conversely, orange imports have slightly decreased, with 5.88 million kg worth $5.1 million (Rs. 420 million) imported, compared to 6.5 million kg worth $5.7 million (Rs. 459 million) in the last fiscal year. Other notable imports include pomegranates at $3.8 million (Rs. 314 million), grapes at $2.8 million (Rs. 236 million), mangoes at $2.9 million (Rs. 241 million), lemons at $1.8 million (Rs. 146 million), along with watermelons, kiwis, papayas, and pears.
Source: The Rising Nepal