Nepal’s rice imports reached Rs 20.39 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year, rising by Rs 1.28 billion year-on-year. Basmati rice accounted for Rs 4.27 billion, while raw and semi-processed rice imports totaled Rs 9.87 billion. Despite higher import volumes, revenue collection fell to Rs 144.26 million. Once a rice exporter, Nepal has become increasingly import-dependent following market liberalization in the 1990s. With annual consumption at around 480,000 tonnes, domestic production continues to lag behind demand.
