Balance of Trade

When exports exceed imports, the country has a trade surplus; when imports exceed exports, it has a trade deficit. The balance of trade (in goods) is part of the current account in the balance of payments. Adding trade in services gives the balance of goods and services.

The balance of trade differs from the balance of payments. The balance of payments is a complete record of all transactions with the rest of the world, including services, income, transfers and capital and financial flows. A country can have a large trade deficit but still a BoP surplus if remittances, aid or capital inflows are large.

Nepal has a large and persistent trade deficit: imports are many times larger than exports, and India is the largest trading partner for both. The deficit is financed mainly by workers' remittances, which is why Nepal's current account and overall BoP can be in surplus in some years despite the trade gap. Common policy responses include promoting exports, import substitution and improving competitiveness.

NRB and the Department of Customs publish Nepal's foreign trade statistics.

निर्यात आयातभन्दा बढी भए व्यापार बचत र आयात बढी भए व्यापार घाटा हुन्छ। वस्तुको व्यापार सन्तुलन शोधनान्तर स्थितिको चालु खाताको अंश हो; सेवा जोड्दा वस्तु तथा सेवा सन्तुलन हुन्छ।

व्यापार सन्तुलन र शोधनान्तर स्थिति फरक हुन्: शोधनान्तर स्थितिमा सेवा, आय, हस्तान्तरण र पुँजी तथा वित्तीय प्रवाहसमेत पर्छन्। विप्रेषण, अनुदान वा पुँजी आप्रवाह ठूलो भए व्यापार घाटा हुँदाहुँदै पनि शोधनान्तर बचत हुन सक्छ।

नेपालको व्यापार घाटा ठूलो र निरन्तर छ; आयात निर्यातभन्दा धेरै गुणा बढी छ र भारत प्रमुख साझेदार हो। यो घाटा मुख्यतः विप्रेषणले पूर्ति गर्छ। निर्यात प्रवर्द्धन, आयात प्रतिस्थापन र प्रतिस्पर्धा क्षमता सुधार प्रमुख नीतिगत उपाय हुन्।