SATV 06 July, Kathmandu: Nepal has witnessed a sharp rise in smartphone imports during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, with devices worth over Rs. 32 billion brought into the country.

According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, a total of 1,975,513 smartphones worth Rs. 32.08 billion have been imported during the review period. 

The government has collected revenue of around of Rs. 6 billion from the import of mobile phones during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.

The import of mobiles phones has increased by 21 per cent during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year as compared to corresponding period last fiscal year. 

A total of 1,710,135 smartphones worth Rs. 26.33 billion had been imported during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year 2023/24.

The government had collected revenue of Rs. 4.90 billion from the import of mobile during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year.

The country had imported 1,839,035 smartphones worth Rs. 28.66 billion during the last fiscal year 2023/24. Revenue of Rs. 5.33 billion had been collected while importing 1,839,035 smartphones last fiscal year. 

Likewise, 1,569,596 smartphones worth Rs. 24.39 billion had been imported in the fiscal year 2022/23.

During the review period, smartphones are imported from more than 60 countries. 

According to the Department, smartphones are imported from countries such as Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait and Luxembourg.

Similarly, the smartphones are imported from Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.

The largest number of smartphones are imported from China. In terms of volume, about 79.5 per cent of the total imported smartphones come from China, while 20 per cent come from India and the rest from other countries.

A total of 1,570,540 smartphones worth Rs. 22.22 billion have been imported from China during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. The government collected revenue of Rs. 4.14 billion from mobiles imported from China only.

In addition, the data shows that the second largest number of imports came from India. A total of 397,368 phones worth Rs. 9.29 billion imported from India and the government collected revenue of Rs. 1.73 billion. 

Similarly, a total of 1,198 smartphones worth Rs. 136 million have been imported from United States of America, 1,033 smartphones worth Rs. 1.7 million from Viet Nam and 1,011 smartphones worth Rs. 110 million have been imported from United Arab Emirates.

A total of 964 mobiles worth Rs. 78 million from Japan and 529 smartphones worth Rs. 37 million have been imported from South Korea during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.

Similarly, during the same period, a total of 391 smartphones worth Rs. 50 million have been imported from Qatar, 121 smartphones worth Rs. 3.1 million from Kuwait and 193 smartphones worth Rs. 20 million from United Kingdom.

A total of 128 smartphones worth Rs. 12 million have been imported from Hong Kong while a total of 105 smartphones worth Rs. 10 million have been imported from Canada during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.