Nepal’s Gross Foreign Assets Reach USD 21.53 Billion – Up 4.8% in Mid-September 2025/26 NRB Report

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Mid-September 2025/26 report, Nepal’s gross foreign assets surged to USD 21.53 billion, marking a 4.8% increase from mid-July 2025. This rise highlights Nepal’s improved external liquidity and macroeconomic resilience, supported by strong remittance inflows, revived tourism, and controlled import expenditure.

The report reveals that the foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 20.41 billion, up by 4.7% within two months. Among these, convertible reserves—the portion usable for international transactions—rose by 5.5% to USD 15.82 billion, while inconvertible reserves climbed by 2.0% to USD 4.59 billion. The import capacity also improved significantly, with reserves now capable of covering 16 months of total imports and nearly 20 months of merchandise imports, reflecting one of the strongest external positions in South Asia.

The Nepal Rastra Bank’s holdings of foreign assets increased to USD 19.42 billion, up 4.2% from mid-July, while Bank and Financial Institutions (BFIs) expanded their holdings by 10.6%, reaching USD 2.12 billion. Within this, the convertible portion of BFI assets rose by 12.9%, indicating growing international exposure and improved liquidity management within Nepal’s financial system.

The country’s Net Foreign Assets (NFA) rose by 5.2% to USD 20.42 billion, while foreign liabilities slightly declined to USD 1.12 billion, further strengthening Nepal’s overall foreign position. The reserves-to-GDP ratio and reserves-to-import ratio both showed consistent improvement, demonstrating Nepal’s growing economic buffer and its ability to withstand external shocks such as trade imbalances or currency fluctuations.

Economists credit this improvement to sustained remittance inflows, rising tourism receipts, and disciplined foreign exchange management by the NRB. The gradual depreciation of the Nepali rupee, averaging Rs 141.14 per USD by mid-September 2025, also contributed to valuation gains in foreign assets. Analysts suggest that with proper export diversification, investment mobilization, and import efficiency, Nepal can maintain this stability while transitioning toward sustainable external growth.