NRB Mid-September Review 2025/26: Remittance Surges 33% to Rs. 352 Billion

Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) latest Mid-September 2025/26 Macroeconomic Report reveals a strong surge in remittance inflows, marking one of the most positive highlights of Nepal’s external sector this year. The data shows that remittances soared by 33% year-on-year, reaching Rs. 352 billion, compared to Rs. 264.6 billion during the same period last fiscal year. This significant growth underscores the resilience and contribution of Nepali migrant workers in sustaining the national economy.

According to NRB, the steady increase in remittance inflows has played a pivotal role in strengthening Nepal’s external balance, supporting the current account surplus and foreign exchange reserves. The current account recorded a surplus of Rs. 130.7 billion, while the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained strongly positive at Rs. 153.7 billion. These figures highlight that remittance inflows continue to act as the backbone of Nepal’s external stability, providing the liquidity needed to finance imports and stabilize the currency.

The report attributes this sharp rise in remittances to multiple factors — including increased labor migration, digitalization of remittance channels, and improved compliance with formal transfer systems. The expansion of legal remittance services through mobile banking, fintech platforms, and money transfer companies has made it easier and faster for Nepali workers abroad to send money home securely. This also reflects NRB’s effective regulatory efforts to encourage the use of official remittance channels and curb informal (hundi) transactions.

This strong remittance growth has directly contributed to the build-up of foreign exchange reserves, which climbed to USD 20.41 billion (approximately Rs. 2.88 trillion) — enough to cover more than 13 months of imports. It has also helped to offset the country’s persistent trade deficit, as exports and imports remain imbalanced despite some improvements. The report further shows that exports rose by 47.3%, reaching Rs. 277 billion, while imports increased by 16.2% to Rs. 305 billion, collectively narrowing the trade gap.

Remittances also continue to support household consumption, education, and investment in urban and rural Nepal. However, economists warn that while rising remittances boost foreign reserves and short-term stability, long-term dependence on migrant income poses structural challenges, particularly in employment generation and domestic production. Policymakers are urged to channel remittance inflows into productive sectors such as agriculture, SMEs, and manufacturing to ensure sustainable economic growth.