KATHMANDU: The number of cars imported via Nepal's Birgunj Customs gate has drastically decreased during the first five months of the current fiscal year. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, only 482 vehicles—including SUVs, cars, and vans—worth Rs 920.3 million were imported during this period.
Vehicle imports decreased by 38.13 percent over the same period last fiscal year, while income decreased by 16.43 percent. 779 cars totaling Rs 1.2 billion were imported last year, generating Rs 2.8 billion in customs income.
The decrease in imports is not limited to conventional gasoline and diesel automobiles. Imports of electric vehicles (EVs) via the Birgunj checkpoint have also drastically decreased. A total of Rs 147 million worth of 97 electric SUVs, vehicles, and vans have been imported this fiscal year.
The drop in EV imports is even more notable given a 58.63 percent drop in income and a 59.07 percent drop in vehicle numbers. Customs received Rs 203 million from the import of 237 electric cars worth Rs 465 million during the same period last year.
The overall decline in imports of both conventional and electric automobiles is a result of changing consumer tastes and market dynamics, which significantly impacts the Birgunj checkpoint's capacity to collect customs revenue.
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