Nepal Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in Nepal, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.
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Agriculture Sector
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In 2024, exports of U.S. agricultural products to Nepal were valued at $42 million – the top category of U.S. exports to Nepal. Nepal imports a significant amount of food products as only 15 percent of Nepal’s land is arable and productivity is low due to structural impediments, including poor road infrastructure for distribution and low yield small-scale farming. While U.S. farm, food, and dairy products are less price competitive than cheaper Indian and Chinese products, demand has slowly increased in the last few years, and U.S. goods now constitute 10% of total imports to Nepal’s agricultural market sector. Nepal also offers opportunities for U.S. exports of seeds and fertilizers (NOTE: Nepal bans the import of genetically modified and hybrid seeds). 

U.S. soybeans are the top U.S. export to Nepal, accounting for about 30% of all U.S. exports. They are primarily used for poultry feed, and rising demand for animal feed, especially in poultry and fish farming, has increased the need for high-quality soybeans. Nepali farmers prefer U.S. soybeans for their protein content and reliability in meeting production goals. 
 

Table: Exports/Imports of Soybean Products (U.S. $ thousands)
   

 

2021

2022

2023

2024

Total Local Productionn/an/an/an/a
Total Exports7,78910,316Not availableNot available
Total Imports138,453141,857133,519150,740
Imports from the US50,38564,49413,24251,128
Total Market Size*130,664131,541133,519150,740


 Total Imports:   UN Comtrade Database
 U.S. Imports:   UN Comtrade Database 
 

Leading Sub-sectors

•    Soybeans
•    Rice
•    Legumes
•    Dried pastas, Bread
•    Pastry, cakes, and biscuits
•    Vegetable oil
•    Capsules for medicine
•    Packaged/processed foods
•    Fruits
•    Seeds, animal feed

Opportunities

Demand for U.S. bread, pastries, cakes, biscuits, and other bakery products has steadily increased, as has the presence of flavored waters, nonalcoholic beverages, prepared food, ethyl alcohol, spirits, and liquors. Additional opportunities exist in processed, packaged, and canned foods, as well as in seeds and animal feed. In August 2025, the Nepali government allowed U.S. exports of poultry and pork, removing previous market restrictions that had aimed to protect domestic industries. However, the Nepali government requires that every new U.S. export shipment obtain prior approval. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) made this a key priority in the 2024 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks to reduce the impact of these impediments to U.S. exports. High-end hotel chains are the primary market for U.S. poultry and pork. 

Resources

United States International Trade Commission
Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal

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