Uncooked pasta market in Nepal

Earlier Report Observations

The market for uncooked pasta in Nepal underwent significant changes in volume between 2018 and 2023. Starting at 5 038 t, domestic market size dipped to 3 939 t in 2019 before recovering and then expanding sharply to reach 7 629 t by 2023.

This growth period was characterized by a steady rise in local production, which increased from 7 342 t to 7 983 t. Concurrently, the country's trade dynamics shifted substantially, with imports falling from 2 313 t to 702 t and exports declining from a peak of 5 612 t in 2021 to just 1 056 t in 2023.

The combined trajectory of increasing output and diminishing trade flows corresponded with a much larger volume of pasta being supplied to the local market.

Production uncooked pasta in Nepal

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of uncooked pasta, 2017-2020

World map of production of uncooked pasta, 2017-2020

In 2020, Nepal produced 7,796 tonnes of uncooked pasta, marking a 6.2% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually declined by 21%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 7.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 7,342 tonnes, with that year also seeing the largest decline of 25.6%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the value of uncooked pasta production in Nepal was $10,772 thousand US dollars, showing a slight decline of 0.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 15.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at $9,961 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 22.2%. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest increase of 8.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Nepal in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports uncooked pasta from Nepal

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Nepal exported 4,904 tonnes of uncooked pasta, representing an 8.8% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports declined by 15.2%, with a CAGR of -5.3%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 4,617 tonnes, which also had the largest decline of 20.1%. On the positive side, 2019 saw the largest increase of 16.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, India remained the primary destination for Nepal's uncooked pasta exports, accounting for 75.8% of total export volumes. Other markets played a much smaller role during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Nepal's uncooked pasta exports reached $6,776 thousand US dollars, down by 14.7% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 9.7%, with a CAGR of -3.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at $6,263 thousand US dollars, while the maximum occurred in 2019 at $7,940 thousand US dollars. The largest decline of 16.5% happened in 2018, whereas 2019 saw the largest increase of 26.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India (62.4% of export value), the United States (10.5%), and Australia (10.5%) were the principal destinations for Nepal's uncooked pasta exports in value terms. Together, these three markets accounted for 83.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports uncooked pasta to Nepal

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Nepal imported 2,085 tonnes of uncooked pasta, which was 5.6% higher than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import volumes increased by 35.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 10.7%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 2,313 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 50.3%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest decline of 14.6%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, India (46.5% of import volumes), South Korea (19.9%), and Turkey (14.4%) formed the core group of suppliers for Nepal's uncooked pasta imports. Collectively, these three countries represented 80.8% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Nepal's imports of uncooked pasta increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to $2,884 thousand US dollars, remaining virtually unchanged from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value grew by 64.4%, which translates to an annualized rate of 18.0%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, South Korea (40.0% of import value), India (36.4%), and Italy (11.2%) consistently held leading positions in Nepal's uncooked pasta import structure. Together, these three countries accounted for 87.6% of total import flows.

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

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