Kathmandu— Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves have surpassed Rs 3 trillion, reaching Rs 3,055.52 billion by the first four months of the current fiscal year (up to Kartik 2082), according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
As of mid-Ashar 2082, the country’s foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 2,677.68 billion, indicating an increase of more than Rs 377 billion in just four months.
NRB said the current level of reserves is sufficient to cover 17.4 months of imports of goods and services, while goods imports alone can be sustained for 20.8 months.
Dollar reserves exceed USD 21.5 billion
In US dollar terms, foreign exchange reserves increased to USD 21.52 billion, up from USD 19.50 billion in mid-Ashar. This represents a 10.3 percent growth in dollar reserves during the review period.
Central bank holdings rise sharply
Foreign exchange reserves held by Nepal Rastra Bank increased by 12.8 percent, reaching Rs 2,724.66 billion, compared to Rs 2,414.64 billion in mid-Ashar.
Meanwhile, reserves held by banks and financial institutions rose to Rs 330.85 billion, up from Rs 263.40 billion at the start of the fiscal year.
Strong coverage indicators
NRB data show that as of mid-Kartik, Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves account for:
- Around 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- 144.9 percent of total imports
- 37.8 percent of broad money supply
The central bank noted that the rising reserve position has strengthened Nepal’s external sector stability and enhanced the country’s capacity to withstand external economic shocks.
