Tag: 7Month

  • Nepal’s Macroeconomic Snapshot: Resilient Remittances, Forex Stability, and Balanced Trade Dynamics in the First Seven Months of 2023/24

    Nepal’s Macroeconomic Snapshot: Resilient Remittances, Forex Stability, and Balanced Trade Dynamics in the First Seven Months of 2023/24


    The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of Nepal, has presented an overview of the country’s macroeconomic and financial situation based on data from the first seven months, ending mid-February of 2023/24.

    Overall

    According to NRB, the inflation rate was estimated at 5.01% on a year-on-year basis. The gross foreign exchange reserves reached USD 13.89 billion. Total imports decreased by 2.3%, exports by 7.1%, and the trade deficit by 1.8%. The NEPSE index stood at 2101.16.

    Inflation

    Year-on-year consumer price inflation moderated to 5.01% in mid-February 2024, compared to 7.88% a year ago. Wholesale price inflation stood at 2.82% in mid-February 2024.

    Import and Export

    Merchandise exports decreased by 7.1% to Rs. 86.83 billion, while merchandise imports decreased by 2.3% to Rs. 897.94 billion. The total trade deficit decreased by 1.8% to Rs. 811.11 billion.

    Services and Remittance

    Net services income remained at a deficit of Rs. 37.26 billion, while remittance inflows increased by 21.6% to Rs. 839 billion.

    Inter-bank Transaction

    BFIs inter-bank transactions amounted to Rs. 2872.44 billion. The price of oil decreased to USD 83.88 per barrel, and the price of gold increased to USD 2015.20 per ounce.

    Foreign Exchange Reserves

    Gross foreign exchange reserves increased to Rs. 1844.94 billion. Reserves held by NRB and other institutions increased, and the Indian currency’s share in total reserves stood at 22.6%.

    Exchange Rate

    The Nepalese currency depreciated by 1.05% against the US dollar.

    Nepal Government Expenditure and Revenue

    Total government expenditure stood at Rs. 686.75 billion, with revenue mobilization reaching Rs. 567.40 billion.

    Cash Balance of Government

    The cash balance at various accounts of the Government of Nepal (GoN) maintained with NRB stood at Rs. 215.26 billion.

    Banking

    Domestic credit increased by 3.2%, deposits at Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) increased by 7.0%, and private sector credit from BFIs increased by 4.1%.

    Interest Rates

    Average base rates of commercial banks, development banks, and finance companies stood at 9.06%, 11.13%, and 12.70%, respectively.

    Balance of Payments

    The Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs. 297.72 billion.

  • Nepal’s 7-Month Trade Snapshot: Imports Dip 2.31%, Trade Deficit Narrows 1.77%, Exports Down 7.07%

    Nepal’s 7-Month Trade Snapshot: Imports Dip 2.31%, Trade Deficit Narrows 1.77%, Exports Down 7.07%


    In the initial seven months of the current fiscal year, spanning from Shrawan to Magh in the Nepali calendar, Nepal’s imports reached Rs. 8.97 Kharba, indicating a slight decrease of 2.31% compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, where imports totaled Rs. 9.19 Kharba.

    During this period, the trade deficit has also witnessed a reduction of 1.77%, amounting to Rs. 8.11 Kharba in the current fiscal year, as opposed to Rs. 8.25 Kharba recorded in the same timeframe of the previous year.

    Simultaneously, there has been a notable decline in Nepal’s exports, experiencing a 7.07% decrease. The total value of exported goods and services for the first seven months of the current fiscal year amounted to Rs. 86.83 Arba, in contrast to the Rs. 93.43 Arba worth of exports during the equivalent period in the preceding year. These statistics, derived from data released by the Customs Department, highlight the dynamics of Nepal’s trade performance, showcasing a nuanced interplay of import and export figures in the given fiscal timeframe.