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The Mustang Customs Office at Nechung in Lomanthang Rural Municipality-4 of Upper Mustang has recorded imports worth more than Rs. 19.40 billion in less than three months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.

With the customs office at Timure in Rasuwa and the Tatopani border point remaining out of operation following floods in the Bhotekoshi River, containers carrying electric vehicles (EVs) and other goods have increasingly entered Nepal through the Korala border point, triggering an unprecedented surge in import trade.

As of October 13, goods worth Rs. 19.4069 billion had been imported through the border point, according to the Mustang Customs Office.

Abindra Singh, information officer at the office, said that Rs. 8.3283 billion in revenue had been collected through the Liji–Nechung (Korala) border point via Tibet's Zhongwasein district between mid-July and mid-October.

“Daily revenue collection reaches as high as Rs. 400 million, although EV imports have declined slightly due

to the poor condition of the road,” Singh said.

According to Singh, Nepal exported goods worth only Rs. 3.778 million during the same period. The difference between imports and exports amounted to Rs. 19.4031 billion, with imports 5,135 times higher than exports.

The major imports include electric vehicles, household goods, cosmetics, electrical appliances, machinery and equipment for hydropower projects, and clothing. Nepal's exports through the border point mainly comprise handicraft products and textiles.

Since the beginning of the fiscal year in mid-July, a total of 3,126 electric vehicles have entered Nepal through the Korala border point.

With other border points along Nepal's northern frontier remaining closed, the Mustang Customs Office is already nearing its annual revenue collection target of Rs. 9 billion in October, despite the fiscal year having begun only in mid-July.

EVs account for the largest share of revenue collected by the office, while fruits contribute the least.

After customs clearance at the office, located about 14 kilometres south of the Korala border point, goods are transported to Pokhara via the 186-kilometre Korala–Jomsom–Beni road section.

Bidur Chudal, chief of the Mustang Customs Office, said that road obstructions had left Chinese electric vehicles stranded on the Chinese side of the border, while a large number of vehicles that had already completed customs clearance remained stuck in Mustang.

“Imports of goods targeting the festive season are continuing, and customs activities are expected to remain particularly busy until the end of November,” Chudal said.

The movement of workers, drivers and local traders has also increased around the Korala border point as trade and the transportation of goods gather pace.

By Hari Krishna Sharma