December 28: Fuel import accounted for half of the revenue collection of Birgunj Customs in the current fiscal year.

According to the Birgunj Customs Office, it collected 46.96 percent of the total revenue up to mid-December in the current FY from the import of petroleum products. According to Birgunj Customs Office, fuel import has increased in recent months.

Information officer of Birgunj Customs, Ram Chandra Dhakal, said that the fuel imports accounted for 53.90 percent of the total revenue collected from mid-November to mid-December.

Birgunj is the main entry point for petroleum products. Fuel is imported from this checkpoint using the Motihari-Amlekhagunj petroleum pipeline as well as land route.

According to Birgunj Customs, a total of 379.92 million liters of diesel, 162.24 million liters of petrol, 682.24 million liters of aviation turbine fuel, and 114.47 million kg of cooking gas have been imported through this border point in the first five months of the current fiscal year.

According to customs office, the contribution of vehicles to the total revenue stands at 9 percent. Customs officials said that the import of vehicles has decreased due to the high interest rates and low market demand.

Four wheelers including jeeps, cars, vans, trucks and bus chassis as well as motorcycles, vehicle parts, and electric vehicles are imported through this customs point. Customs data show that the import of unassembled motorcycles has increased recently. Such imports have increased due to the opening of the motorcycle assembly industry in the country.

Both the import volume and revenue from Birgunj customs have declined this year. In the first five months of the current fiscal year, this customs point recorded foreign trade (import and export) equal to Rs 255.26 billion. In the same period of the previous fiscal year, the trade volume from this customs stood at Rs 310.80 billion.

The trade deficit from this customs point has alone reached Rs 229.89 billion.

Data show that even though the government has lifted all kinds of import restrictions, there has been no improvement in foreign trade.

Due to the decline in imports, Birgunj Customs has not been able to meet its revenue collection target. Birgunj customs was given a target to collect Rs 98.56 billion till mid-December. Information Officer Dhakal said that the customs office has been able to collect only Rs 62 billion during this period. The revenue collection of Birgunj Customs is 62.91 percent of the target. During the same period last year, the revenue was Rs 63.45 billion.