Kathmandu: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reported that the country received Rs 1449.65 billion in remittances over an eight-month period, demonstrating a significant growth in remittance inflows. The central bank also highlighted that the gross foreign exchange reserves in the country have reached Rs 3413.77 billion, which is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise and services imports for 18.5 months.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the NRB’s “Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal” report, based on data ending mid-March, revealed a 27.5 percent increase in gross foreign exchange reserves, rising from Rs 2677.68 billion in mid-July 2025 to Rs 3413.77 billion in mid-March 2026. The reserves held specifically by NRB themselves saw a 25.7 percent increase, while reserves in banks and financial institutions climbed by 44 percent.
The report also indicated that Indian currency makes up 21 percent of the total foreign exchange reserves as of mid-March 2026. In terms of inflation, the year-on-year consumer price inflation recorded was 3.62 percent, slightly lower than the 3.75 percent observed a year earlier. The average inflation for the eighth month of the current fiscal year stood at 2.13 percent compared to 4.72 percent the previous year.
During the eight-month span of the fiscal year 2025/26, merchandise exports increased by 20.8 percent, while imports rose by 12.5 percent. This period saw the total trade deficit rise by 11.2 percent, reaching Rs 1098.14 billion, while the export-import ratio improved to 14.8 percent from the previous year’s 13.8 percent.
The NRB also noted a significant increase in remittance inflows, which grew by 37.7 percent compared to the previous year. Specifically, from mid-February to mid-March, remittance inflows were Rs 188.64 billion, up from Rs 151.19 billion in the same period last year. Moreover, the current account recorded a surplus of Rs 552.85 billion during the review period, up from Rs 197.03 billion in the previous year.