According to the import data of Department of Customs, the country imported 361,364 units of mobile phones worth Rs2.41 billion during mid-July to mid-August against 424,950 units worth Rs1.65 billion during the same period in the last fiscal year.

The shift towards pricier mid-range phones is the main reason for the rise in import value rather than mobile phone units, said Bikash Agrawal, business head at Integrated Mobility Solutions (IMS) Group, the authorised distributor of Samsung mobile phones in the country.

Mid-range smartphones have been gaining popularity among customers in the country in recent years due to its affordable pricing, efficient features and sleek designs, according to mobile phone dealers. Mid-range smartphones are perfect for the average Nepali consumer, especially for gadget enthusiasts who like being up-to-date with the latest mobile technology.

Customers who used to buy entry-level phone priced at Rs8,000-10,000 have started purchasing smartphones ranging from Rs,15,000-25,000, said Agrawal.

Most mid-range smartphones offer premium features like high megapixel cameras, big screen and fashionable design. The country imports smartphones mainly from China and India. The country imported 203,190 units mobile phones of worth Rs880 million from China in the first month of the current fiscal year against 143,980 units of worth Rs1.41 billion from India.

Another reason for the rise in import value is that smartphone prices have risen slightly after the government repealed the provision of VAT refund that importers used to collect for each phone brought into the country. The government also hiked excise duty on imported mobile phone sets.

Sanjay Agrawal, vice-president of Mobile Phone Importers Association said the government measure to control grey market units also played a part in the import value spiking. In the past, mobile phones available in the grey market were considerably cheaper than buying from an authorised distributor. But with the government implementing an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) system, the allure of buying a smartphone on the grey market is diminished. The upcoming EIR system means that distributors of mobile devices will need to pay a fee to the government for the imported smartphone to be recognised via International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) in the country’s network. This means that grey market smartphones are now only 10 percent cheaper from nearly 25 percent cheaper compared to buying from an authorised distributor.

Min Prasad Aryal, director at Nepal Telecommunications Authority said the government is working on the EIR system. “It will be implemented within 4 months as soon it clears the testing phase,” he said.