Export sees insignificant growth

KATHMANDU, JAN 19: 

In the first five months of the current fiscal year, there was an insignificant increment in total export figures. According to statistics released by the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), in the first five months there was an increment of only 3.8 per cent in total exports as compared to the same period last year. 

In the corresponding period of fiscal year 2011-12, total exports was worth Rs 30.72 billion, which has increased to Rs 31.87 billion in 2012-13. 

However, major exportable products of the country along with the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy products have observed another fall. 

Woollen carpets, readymade garments, woollen and pashmina shawls, and Nepali paper and paper products observed another decline. 

Exports of woollen carpets plunged by 21.8 per cent with total exports of Rs 2.17 billion, while exports of readymade garments fell by 29.7 per cent to Rs 1.55 billion.

Pashmina shawls worth Rs 856 million was exported during the period which is a fall of 16.5 per cent. Similarly, exports of Nepali paper and paper products decreased by 20.6 per cent to Rs 198 million. 

Statistics for the five months also show a fall in the export of NTIS products that are natural honey, silver jewellery, iron and steel products, and woollen products. 

Exports of Nepal Trade Integration Strategy products was comparatively better in the same period last year, whereas except for a minimal rise of 5.7 per cent in iron and steel products, exports of all the remaining products that is natural honey, silver jewellery and woollen products fell by 97.5 per cent, 42.1 per cent and 25.5 per cent respectively, states the Trade and Export Promotion Centre data. 

During the first five months of 2012-13, India, US, Bangladesh, China and Germany were the top five importers of Nepali exportable products.

Source: THT