Imports via Rasuwagadhi-Kerung customs point have more than doubled in mid July-mid June this year.

According to the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office, Nepal imported goods worth Rs43.24 billion in the first eleven months of this fiscal year. However, exports dropped 25 percent to Rs1.16 billion during the review period.

Rasuwagadhi-Kerung has been the major land based trading route with the northern neighbour following the closure of Tatopani customs point since the 2015 earthquake. Although Tatopani was recently brought back to operation, trade through this customs point has yet to gain momentum.

Punya Bikram Khadka, chief of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office, said readymade garment, apple, footwear, bags and spectacles were the major items imported from northern neighbour during the period. With the soaring import, the customs point has been recording significant growth in revenue collection.

Bhupendra Karki, information officer of the customs office, said they collected customs revenue of Rs9.84 billion, up from Rs3.81 billion during the review period. With notable rise in the customs revenue collection, the government has also revised the revenue target for the customs office.

The Department of Customs had originally set the revenue target for the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office at Rs7.62 billion which the department later revised to Rs9.50 billion.

Readymade garment is the topmost item imported from the customs point. Of late, imports of construction materials for airport projects and equipment of telecommunication and hydropower projects are also on the rise.

Rasuwagadhi-Kerung is the traditional route when it comes to trading with China. The government set up the customs office at the location nearly six decades ago.

However, trading momentum at the point only picked after the government declared it as an official trade route to China on December 1, 2014. After the Chinese government on August 30, 2017 declared the customs point as an international border, the trade volume has soared by notable amount.

Nepal imports goods such as apples, readymade garments, footwear, toys, herbs like jimbu, cosmetics and electronics through this border point. In return, Nepal exports flour, metal crafts, woolen carpets, cosmetics, chilli, rice, noodles and fruit juice, among others.