As per the latest customs department data, the smartphone import hit Rs 18 billion till Chaitra in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80. During the period, mobile phone importers spent 18 billion, 66 crores on buying phones of different brands in the country.
During the period, a total of 12 lakh 11 thousand, and 786 units of phones have entered Nepal via legitimate means.
Till Falgun, smartphones worth 16 billion, 2 lakh, and 73 were imported. During the period, 10 lakh, 94 thousand, and 889 units of phones entered the Nepali market.
In the meantime, the Nepal government generated 3 billion, 48 crore, 39 lakh, and 9 thousand in revenue from the smartphone import till Chaitra fy 2079/80. The Customs Department statistics have shown.
In the month of Chaitra alone, Nepali traders brought in 1 lakh, 16 thousand, 897 units of phones into the country. The month alone saw spending of 2 billion, 6 crores, 40 lakh, and 65 thousand.
| Smartphone import till Chaitra | Total spending | Government revenue |
| 12.12 lakh units | Rs 18.66 billion | Rs 3.48 billion |
Check out | Global Smartphone Market Declines in Fifth Consecutive Quarter, 12% in Q1 2023
China remained the top partner for smartphone import in Nepal till Chaitra
Nepal buys most of its mobile phones from China. As per the records, different phones were imported from a total of 67 countries. In China alone, 8 lakh, 16 thousand 836 phones were brought to Nepal worth 11 billion, 56 crores, 30 lakh, 7 thousand.
Likewise, from India came 3 lakh, 77 thousand, and 237 units of smartphones. They cost a total of 5 billion, 67 crore, 63 lakh, and 13 thousand.
Ever since the end of the phone ban, the Nepali smartphone market has attempted stability. Nepal is a mid-range friendly smartphone market. But despite that, phones such as Galaxy S23 Ultra, and iPhone 14 Pro Max also remain popular.
The stats are official though and don’t include grey phones which have evaded customs duty and registration. The MDMD implementation could have minimized such phones from circulation in Nepal however, its delay has caused multi-layer loss for both the market and the government.
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