SATV, Kathmandu, May 24: Smartphone imports have already exceeded the total import value of the previous fiscal year within the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, reflecting a significant rise in demand for mobile devices in the country.

According to the latest statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal imported a total of 1,863,869 smartphones worth Rs. 39.39 billion by mid-May of the current fiscal year, surpassing the entire fiscal year 2024/25 import value of Rs. 35.54 billion.

During the last fiscal year, the country had imported 2,184,694 smartphones worth Rs. 35.54 billion. Although the number of handsets imported this year remains lower than last year’s total, the import value has already exceeded it by around Rs. 3.85 billion in just 10 months, indicating a rise in the import of higher-priced devices.

Compared to the same period last fiscal year, smartphone imports increased by 37 per cent in value and 4 per cent in quantity. In the first 10 months of fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal had imported 1,785,654 smartphones worth Rs. 28.76 billion. The government collected around Rs. 7.34 billion in revenue from smartphone imports during the review period. The data also shows a steady rise in smartphone imports over the years. 

Nepal value of imported 1,839,035 smartphones was Rs. 28.66 billion in fiscal year 2023/24, while 1,569,596 smartphones valued at Rs. 24.39 billion were imported in fiscal year 2022/23.

The latest figures suggest growing consumer demand for smartphones and increasing imports of comparatively expensive models in the domestic market. During the review period, smartphones are imported from almost 60 countries. 

According to the Department, smartphones are imported from countries such as Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon and Luxembourg.

Similarly, the smartphones are imported from Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam and Namibia.

The largest number of smartphones are imported from China. A total of 1,562570 smartphones worth Rs. 29.75 billion have been imported from China during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The government collected revenue of Rs. 5.54 billion while importing mobiles from China only.

In addition, the data shows that the second largest number of imports came from India. A total of 292,877 phones worth Rs. 8.97 billion were imported from India and the government collected revenue of Rs. 1.67 billion. 

Similarly, a total of 2,452 smartphones worth Rs. 146 million have been imported from Australia, while a total of 1,255 smartphones worth Rs. 155 million have been imported from United States of America, 1,179 smartphones worth Rs. 109 million from United Arab Emirates and 1,177 smartphones worth Rs. 97 million have been imported from Japan.

A total of 727 smartphones worth Rs. 36 million from South Korea, 698 mobiles worth Rs. 22 million from Qatar and 234 smartphones worth Rs. 27 million have been imported from United Kingdom during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.