Edible oil imports hit Rs100 billion. But no, Nepalis are not guzzling it

Nepalis consume less than 20 percent of what is brought in. The rest is re-exported, almost all to India, exploiting zero-tariff privilege Nepal enjoys as least developed country.

Nepal’s edible oil imports hit the Rs100 billion mark in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. But no, that doesn’t make Nepalis cooking oil guzzlers. Less than 20 percent of the edible oil that Nepal imports is consumed in the country, with the remaining re-exported, almost all to India.