BIRGUNJ: Nepal’s auto imports shot up 29 percent in the last fiscal year compared to the previous year, according to the Birgunj Customs Office. Shipments of cars, jeeps, vans, buses, mini buses, trucks, mini trucks, pick-ups and motorcycles amounted to Rs29.9 billion in 2014-15 against Rs23.1 billion in 2013-14.
The country imported 12,573 cars, jeeps and vans worth Rs8.94 billion during the last fiscal year compared to 11,405 units worth Rs6.94 billion in the previous year. Similarly, motorcycle and scooter imports totalled Rs8.29 billion against Rs8.19 billion previously. Likewise, 4,775 bus and truck chassis worth Rs6.81 billion entered the country while the figure for the previous year was 3,251 units worth Rs4.40 billion.
According to Information Officer Sushil Prasad Sharma, imports of trucks and mini trucks rose to 3,091 units worth Rs3.38 billion from 2,002 units worth Rs1.95 billion. While bus imports swelled to 548 units worth Rs836.6 million from 479 units worth Rs656 million, imports of mini buses jumped to 319 units worth Rs620 million from 149 units worth Rs284.3 million.
Sharma said that an increase in the purchasing power and road expansion fuelled imports. He added that people were turning to motor vehicles following a recession in the land and housing market.
Meanwhile, automobile traders have attributed the growth to easy bank financing and road expansion in city and rural areas. “Although vehicle sales have slowed after the earthquake, the whole fiscal year was good for the automobile business,” said Anjan Shrestha, vice-president of the Nepal Automobile Dealers Association (Nada).
Traders said imports would rise further this year as the government has been giving major priority to road expansion.
Alarmed by soaring imports when the country was facing a ballooning trade deficit, the government said that it would promote automobile assembly and public vehicles.
However, traders said that the government should provide more support if vehicles were to be assembled in the country.
“The government has been telling us to produce vehicles locally instead of importing them from various countries, but various factors like electricity and availability of parts should be addressed first,” said Shrestha.
