Nepal has experienced a significant rise in smartphone imports in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2024/25, with devices worth over Rs. 32 billion entering the market, according to data from the Department of Customs.
A total of 1,975,513 smartphones valued at Rs. 32.08 billion were imported during this period, marking a 21% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. The government collected approximately Rs. 6 billion in revenue from these imports.
In comparison, the first 11 months of fiscal year 2023/24 saw imports of 1,710,135 smartphones worth Rs. 26.33 billion, generating Rs. 4.90 billion in government revenue. The full fiscal year 2023/24 recorded imports of 1,839,035 smartphones valued at Rs. 28.66 billion, with revenue collection of Rs. 5.33 billion. Meanwhile, fiscal year 2022/23 saw imports of 1,569,596 smartphones worth Rs. 24.39 billion.
Nepal’s smartphone imports come from over 60 countries, including major suppliers such as China, India, the United States, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Canada.
China remains the dominant source, accounting for approximately 79.5% of total imported smartphones by volume. During the review period, Nepal imported 1,570,540 smartphones worth Rs. 22.22 billion from China, with the government collecting Rs. 4.14 billion in revenue from these imports.
India ranks as the second-largest supplier, with 397,368 smartphones imported, valued at Rs. 9.29 billion, and revenue collection totaling Rs. 1.73 billion.
Other notable imports include 1,198 smartphones worth Rs. 136 million from the United States, 1,033 phones worth Rs. 1.7 million from Vietnam, and 1,011 phones valued at Rs. 110 million from the United Arab Emirates. Imports from Japan totaled 964 smartphones worth Rs. 78 million, while South Korea supplied 529 devices valued at Rs. 37 million.
Additional imports during this period comprised 391 smartphones worth Rs. 50 million from Qatar, 121 phones worth Rs. 3.1 million from Kuwait, 193 devices worth Rs. 20 million from the United Kingdom, 128 smartphones worth Rs. 12 million from Hong Kong, and 105 devices worth Rs. 10 million from Canada.
