Overall trade of the country compressed by Rs. 127.83 billion

Kathmandu January 8- The overall trade has been squeezed by Rs 127.83 billion in the first five months (mid-July to mid-December) of the current fiscal due Tarai unrest and unofficial Indian blockade.

The political turmoil has adversely affected import and export of the country. Import has dropped by 36 per cent and export by 30.7 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Consequently, import stood at Rs 206.66 billion and export at Rs 26 billion, according to data unveiled by the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), today.

Import and export to and from India — the major trading partner — dropped heavily in the review period. Total import bill from India stood at Rs 119.15 billion, a decline of 42.5 per cent as compared to the first five months of last fiscal.

Likewise, export to India declined by 40 per cent to Rs 13.75 billion. The country had exported goods worth Rs 22.90 billion in the first five months of last fiscal.