Market research

Sugar cane market in Nepal

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Nepal's sugar cane market volume began the period at a high level of 3.6 million tons in 2018, supported by continued government minimum support prices and subsidies for growers, with state-owned sugar mills playing a dominant role in processing. However, persistent delays in payments to farmers from these mills created financial strain, which began to undermine the economic viability of cane cultivation even as production held steady initially.

The market declined to 3.4 million tons in 2020, primarily due to supply chain and processing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The downward trend continued in the following years, with volume falling to 3.2 million tons by 2022. Government measures, such as introducing a new supply policy that prioritized small farmers, allowing mechanical harvesting for the first time, and raising the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), were implemented to stimulate the sector. Yet, chronic payment delays from mills continued to discourage farmers, offsetting the positive impact of these interventions.

By 2023, market volume had decreased further to 3.1 million tons. A key driver was farmers shifting to alternative crops en masse, a direct response to rising production costs and the unresolved issue of delayed payments. This shift occurred despite the government's increase of the FRP to 355 rupees per quintal and directives to mills to expedite settlements, highlighting how structural payment problems outweighed price incentives.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Nepal
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nepal in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nepal in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sugar cane in Nepal

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Nepal produced 3 400 K t of sugar cane, which was 4.4% lower than in 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 5.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 3 558 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 10.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Nepal in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.0%	(0.0%)	(4.4%)	1.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sugar cane from Nepal

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China was the dominant buyer of sugar cane from Nepal, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nepal in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nepal in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, China effectively monopolized the value of sugar cane exports from Nepal, representing 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nepal in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sugar cane to Nepal

Imports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during this period. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 034 t, which marked a substantial decline of 66.9% from the previous year. In 2019, imports rose slightly to approximately 1 042 t, representing a modest increase of 0.8% compared to 2018. Overall, there was a threefold variation between the peak in 2017 and the trough in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(66.9%)	0.8%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Nepal's sugar cane imports were almost entirely sourced from India, which accounted for 100.0% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Nepal in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Nepal's sugar cane imports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports amounted to 41.6 K $ US, reflecting a sharp decrease of 51.4% compared to 2018. Between 2017 and 2019, imports fell by 75.9%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 37.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in value, 2017-2020, K $ US