Nepal’s smartphone imports surged significantly during the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, with devices worth over Rs. 26.86 billion entering the country, according to the Department of Customs.
A total of 1,414,938 smartphones were imported during the review period. In value terms, imports increased by 40.56 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year, while import volume rose by 15.3 percent.
During the corresponding period of fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal had imported 1,229,957 smartphones worth Rs. 18.98 billion. Revenue collection from mobile phone imports also increased, reaching Rs. 4.97 billion in the current fiscal year’s first seven months, up from Rs. 3.53 billion in the same period last year.
On a full-year basis, the country imported 2,184,694 smartphones worth Rs. 35.54 billion in fiscal year 2024/25. This compares to 1,839,035 units worth Rs. 28.66 billion in fiscal year 2023/24, and 1,569,596 units worth Rs. 24.39 billion in fiscal year 2022/23.
Smartphones were imported from more than 50 countries during the review period. China remained the dominant source, accounting for 1,204,577 smartphones valued at Rs. 21.32 billion, representing about 85 percent of total imports by quantity.
India was the second-largest supplier, with 204,658 smartphones worth Rs. 4.95 billion, making up around 15 percent of total imported units.
Smaller volumes were imported from other countries, including 755 units from the United Arab Emirates worth Rs. 73.2 million, 742 units from the United States worth Rs. 88.9 million, and 729 units from Japan worth Rs. 61 million. Additionally, 325 smartphones were imported from South Korea and 127 from the United Kingdom during the review period.
The data reflects sustained demand for smartphones in Nepal, with import growth in value outpacing growth in volume, suggesting higher-priced or premium devices are contributing to the overall increase in import expenditure.
