Nepali traders imported smartphones worth Rs 4.75 billion in Ashoj, FY 2082/2083. The spike in smartphone imports was attributable to the festival season.
As per the records of the Department of Customs, a total of 2 lakh, 96 thousand, and 167 units of smartphones were imported in Ashoj FY 2082/83. To compare, in FY 2081/82 Ashoj, traders imported 2 lakh, 673 units of smartphones worth Rs 3.12 billion.
This year, the figure rose even further for Bhadra, in which Nepali smartphone traders imported 3 lakh, 10 thousand, and 360 units of smartphones. Their total worth stood at Rs 5.45 billion. In FY 2081/82, Bhadra, Nepal imported 2 lakh, 29 thousand, and 795 units of smartphones worth Rs 3.24 billion.
| Smartphone import | Units | Value |
| FY 2082/83 Ashoj | 296,167 | 4.75 billion |
| FY 2081/82 Ashoj | 200,673 | 3.12 billion |
| FY 2082/83 Bhadra | 310,360 | 5.45 billion |
| FY 2081/82 Bhadra | 229,795 | 3.24 billion |
Nepal is a price-sensitive market. Therefore, budget and affordable 5G phones are often the choice for the majority. However, flagship phones also have a good presence.
Traders imported a higher volume of smartphones in Ashoj FY 2082/83
During the festive period, smartphone sales surge and are one of the most sought-after commodities. Distributors import more units of smartphones than throughout the year to meet customer demands. In Ashoj, FY 2082/83, Nepali traders imported a higher volume of smartphones than in the same period from the previous year. This shows the restoration of the smartphone market, which saw a major decline two years ago.
To take the total figure for three months in the current fiscal year, it rises to Rs 13.62 billion in smartphone import values. During the period, 8 lakh units of phones have been brought into Nepal. The government has likewise generated a total of Rs 2.54 billion in revenues from smartphone imports.
But there is still an unignorable and undebatable issue of grey phone transactions in Nepal. In the absence of MDMS or something similar, these phones can’t be traced. These are the types of phones that don’t come with a warranty and are not registered in Nepal, so they are not considered safe to use. So, it seems that the government needs to do more to clamp down on the sales of grey phones to help the traders, customers, and the government itself.
Check out: Best phones under Rs 1 lakh in Nepal
