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The trade deficit widened significantly in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025/26, driven by a sharp rise in imports and only modest export performance, according to the latest foreign trade data released by the Department of Customs.

Nepal recorded a trade deficit of Rs 515.95bn between mid-July and mid-November, an 11.99 percent increase compared to the Rs 460.71bn deficit during the same period last fiscal year. The expansion reflects the country’s growing dependence on imported goods and its struggle to boost export competitiveness.

During the review period, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 609.45bn, while exports amounted to only Rs 93.49bn. Total foreign trade reached Rs 702.94bn, up from Rs 566.05bn in the corresponding period last year.

Although Nepal engaged in trading activities with more than 140 countries over the four-month period, it managed to maintain a trade surplus with only 28 of them. The largest surplus was recorded with Denmark. Nepal exported goods worth Rs 324.41m to the Scandinavian nation while importing products worth only Rs 49.99m, resulting in a surplus of Rs 274.41m. Major export items included tea, pasta, light snacks, pet food, felt products, and pullovers, while imports from Denmark consisted mainly of machinery, ophthalmic instruments, pharmaceutical raw materials, and animal feed.

Other notable countries with which Nepal posted trade surpluses were Romania (Rs 67.85m), Sweden (Rs 25.08m), Niger (Rs 17.34m), Iraq (Rs 17.31m) and the Seychelles (Rs 11.16m). Surpluses with the remaining countries were below Rs 10m.

On the deficit side, Nepal’s largest trade gap—by a wide margin—was with India, its largest trading partner. Imports from India totaled Rs 337.92bn during the review period, while exports reached only Rs 76.5bn, resulting in a deficit of Rs 261.41bn.

Nepal also experienced substantial deficits with China (Rs 132.27bn), Argentina (Rs 34.72bn), and the United Arab Emirates (Rs 21.56bn), reflecting the high volume of crude oil, manufactured goods, machinery, and industrial inputs sourced from these economies.

The widening deficit highlights Nepal’s limited export capacity and rising import dependency. Experts say it is high time the country prioritized industrial productivity, export diversification, and more competitive trade policies to narrow the growing imbalance.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 50. 44 points to close at 2, 650. 66 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 84 points to close at 456. 13 points.

A total of 14,204,362-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 7. 03 billion.

Meanwhile, Jhapa Energy Limited (JHAPA) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. 

Likewise, Mabilung Energy Limited (MABEL) was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 44 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 50 trillion.

Credit disbursement to the private sector grew at a significantly slower pace in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, reflecting subdued economic activity and weakened investor confidence. According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), banks and financial institutions (BFIs) increased lending to the private sector by just 1.5 percent to Rs 82.93bn in the first three months of 2025/26. During the same period of the previous fiscal year, private-sector lending had increased by 2.5 percent, with BFIs extending Rs 128.65bn in loans. 

As of mid-October, the total outstanding credit has reached Rs 5,580.64bn. In the review period, outstanding loans of BFIs to the construction sector increased 2.9 percent, transportation, communication and public sector by 2.4 percent, industrial production sector by 2.4 percent, consumable sector by 1.6 percent, and wholesale and retail sector by 1.4 percent. Outstanding loans to the service industry sector, however, decreased by 0.3 percent.

The slowdown in credit expansion has been attributed to the overall economic slump and the adverse investment climate following the GenZ protests of Sept 8 and 9, which created uncertainty and discouraged new business expansion. Even though interest rates have come down, demand for credit has not picked up because economic sentiment remains weak,” a banker says.

Average interest rates on loans have fallen notably compared to last year. In mid-October, average lending rates stood at 7.5 percent for commercial banks, 8.77 percent for development banks, and  10.18 percent for finance companies, down from 9.33 percent, 10.63 percent, and 11.86 percent, respectively, last year. However, lower interest rates have not spurred demand for credit from the private sector.

Commercial banks and finance companies expanded lending by only 1.6 percent each, while development banks posted an even smaller growth of 0.5 percent in the review quarter. In contrast, deposits in BFIs grew by a healthy three percent in the review period. The total outstanding deposits in the banking system have reached Rs 7,482.59bn. 

The mismatch between rising deposits and sluggish credit growth has raised concerns about pressure on banks’ profitability. With limited lending avenues, interest income of banks—the primary source of earnings for most institutions—has been falling over the past few months.

Experts say credit uptake is not growing despite ample liquidity and lower borrowing costs due to weak investor sentiment. If the government does not act now, they say, credit demand—and therefore economic recovery—may remain subdued in the coming months.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 900 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 242, 700 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 244, 600 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 3, 115 per tola.