The trend of phone imports is stabilizing in Nepal during the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80 (from Shrawan to Magh). As per the latest report by the Customs Department, phones worth Rs 14 billion, and 76 crores were imported in the first seven months of the current FY.
According to the report, 10 lakhs, 5 thousand, and 135 units of phones were imported for a total of Rs 14 billion, 76 crores, 83 lakhs, and 50 thousand till the end of Magh. Check out: Phone import details till Magh.
Likewise, the government of Nepal (GoN) generated Rs 2 billion, 75 crores, and 75 thousand in revenue from the total phone import volumes till the same period.
Till Poush, Nepali distributors brought 8 lakhs, 95 thousand, and 579 units of phones. It cost the buyers a total sum of Rs 13 billion, 98 lakhs, and 88 thousand. That is a total of 1 lakh, 9 thousand, and 556 units of phones were imported into Nepal in one month. This translated to Rs 1 billion, 75 crores, 84 lakhs, and 62 thousand in buying costs for Nepali phone buyers.
After the phone ban ended, expensive mobile phones started arriving in Nepal including iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
However, mobile phone traders have still complained that the absence of MDMS is contributing to the grey phone market in Nepal. The security system MDMS was halted from full implementation after a PM’s directive.
Phone imports during the first seven months of FY 2079/80
Here’s the highlight of the phone imports during the first seven months of the current FY 2079/80.
| Phone imports for seven months of FY 2079/80 | Till Magh | Till Poush | Growth↑ |
| Total spending and phone units | Rs 14.76 billion/ 10,05,135 phone units | Rs 13.98 billion/ 8,95,579 phone units | Rs 1.75 billion/ 109,556 phone units |
Also find: Best 5G Phones In Nepal | Midrange to Flagship | 2023
Most phones come from China and India
Nepal buys its phones from 60 countries. As per the record, China represented the highest mobile phone import in the first seven months of FY 2079/80. Till Magh, phones worth 9 billion, 83 crores, and 1 thousand have been brought from the Northern neighbor. Second is India from where phones worth Rs 4 billion, 13 crores, 51 lakhs, and 73 thousand entered Nepal.
To compare, 7 lakh, 10 thousand, and 677 units of phones came from China against India’s 2 lakhs, 82 thousand, and 720. Check out: Best Phones Under Rs. 35,000 In Nepal | Latest 2023 Update
| Phone imports during seven months of 2079/80 | China | India | Vietnam |
| Total spending and phone units | Rs 9.83 billion/ 7,10,677 phone units | Rs 4.13 billion/ 3,82,720 phone units | Rs 30.79 crores/ 3,200 phone units |
Similarly, Similarly, mobile phones worth 30 crores, 79 lakhs, and 83 thousand were imported from Vietnam. The total number of phones that entered from the East Asian country is 3 thousand, and 2 hundred only.
The government lifted the phone import ban on December 6, 2022.
