Nepali traders spent over Rs 22 billion on smartphone imports till the end of Jestha of the current FY 2079/80. The latest report from the customs department shows that in the first 11 months, Nepal brought in phones worth 22 billion, 38 crores, 16 lakhs, and 28 thousand. In total, 14 lakh, 27 thousand, and 381 units of smartphones were imported into Nepal during this period.
The mobile device business is one of the core sources of revenue for the government. During the period, the federal government generated Rs 4 billion, 17 crores, 50 lakhs, and 94 thousand in revenue.
In Jestha alone, traders imported 1 lakh, 17 thousand, and 525 units of smartphones. In total, 1 billion, 96 crores, 23 lakhs, 7 thousand was spent on those phones.
| Smartphone Imports detail | Smartphone Imports till Jetha FY 2079/80 | Smartphone Imports in Jestha only, FY 2079/80 |
| Total smartphone units | 14,27,381 | 1,17,525 |
| Total spending | Rs 22.38 billion | Rs 4.17 billion |
Nepal is a price-sensitive market for smartphones. And most consumers buy affordable mid-range phones.
Nepal buys most of its phone demands from China, India, Vietnam, and other countries. The customs department report shows Nepal importing phones from 71 different states.
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If you want to find a broader range of cheaper and premium devices, here, you can check out our comprehensive list of best phones from 2022.
China and India remain the largest partner for smartphone imports for Nepal till Jestha, FY 2079/80
China continues to be the largest smartphone-importing partner for Nepal. Till Jestha, FY 2079/80, Nepal saw the import of 9 lakhs, 44 thousand, and 492 smartphone units from China. In total, it cost 13 billion, 68 crores 41 lakhs, and 75 thousand.
India as usual comes second with the Southern country being responsible for 4 lakh, 62 thousand, 741 units. The total amount spent on these phones was Rs 7 billion, 14 crores, 86 lakhs, and 11 thousand.
| Smartphone Imports Partners (till Jestha, FY 2079/80) | China | India |
| Total smartphone units | 9,44,492 | 4,62,741 |
| Total spending | Rs 13.68 billion | Rs 7.14 billion |
China and India together account for an overwhelming majority of phone imports to Nepal.
But this report of the Customs Depart misses the number of “grey phones” which arrive without any legal registration in Nepal. Telecom regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has implemented MDMS for phone registration however, the grey phone market still remains influential at large.
If you have a grey phone, find out how much it costs to register your phone in MDMS and how to do so.
But now, the authority has reaffirmed that it will blacklist grey phones for failing to register in MDMD after the end of Ashar, 2079.
