Top 20 Commodities Contribute 75% of Nepal’s Exports: Overall Growth Hits 95.7%

Nepal’s export sector witnessed remarkable growth in FY 2025/26, with total exports surging by 95.7 percent, reaching Rs. 239.3 billion in one month compared to Rs. 122.3 billion a year earlier. The top 20 commodities accounted for 75 percent of these exports, underlining how a concentrated group of products continues to dominate Nepal’s trade performance.

Within this basket, soybean oil (44.7% share) remained the single largest driver, alongside other fast-growing commodities such as palm oil (+675%), cardamom (+99.5%), jute goods (+31.3%), noodles (+59.7%), and polyester yarn (+22.5%). However, several traditional exports such as woolen carpets (-26.6%), tea (-30.9%), particle boards (-56.6%), and zinc sheets (-69.4%) declined sharply, highlighting the uneven nature of Nepal’s export growth.

The heavy reliance on a few agro-based and re-export commodities like soybean and palm oil raises structural risks, as Nepal remains vulnerable to policy shifts, tariff changes, and market fluctuations in India, its primary export partner. Nonetheless, the fact that 75 percent of exports are concentrated in the top 20 products shows both strength in key sectors and a pressing need for export diversification.