Kathmandu: Nepal’s remittance inflows have reached Rs 352.08 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, marking a strong 33.1 percent increase compared to a 15.8 percent rise during the same period last year, according to the latest report by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The data, published in NRB’s report “Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal” based on two-month statistics ending mid-September, highlights the growing contribution of foreign employment to Nepal’s external sector stability.

During the period from mid-August to mid-September (Bhadau) alone, remittance inflows stood at Rs 174.67 billion, up from Rs 127.99 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
In US dollar terms, remittance inflows rose 27.6 percent to USD 2.52 billion, compared to a 14.2 percent increase last year.

Foreign Employment and Secondary Income

The NRB report also shows that net secondary income (net transfer) increased to Rs 384.88 billion, compared to Rs 287.76 billion in the same period of the previous year.

A total of 90,198 Nepali workers received first-time approvals for foreign employment, while 45,884 obtained approval for re-entry. During the same period last year, these figures were 76,485 and 40,583, respectively.

Current Account and Balance of Payments

Nepal’s current account registered a surplus of Rs 130.69 billion in the review period, up from Rs 54.41 billion in the same period last year. In US dollar terms, the current account surplus increased to USD 934.7 million, compared to USD 405.6 million last year.

Net capital transfer stood at Rs 2.20 billion, while foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (equity only) amounted to Rs 1.27 billion, down from Rs 2.71 billion in the same period last year.

The Balance of Payments (BOP) remained in surplus, reaching Rs 153.68 billion, compared to Rs 101.77 billion last year. In US dollar terms, the BOP surplus was USD 1.10 billion, up from USD 758.4 million in the previous year.

Foreign Exchange Reserves Rise 7.6%

Nepal’s gross foreign exchange reserves increased 7.6 percent to Rs 2,881.35 billion in mid-September 2025, up from Rs 2,677.68 billion in mid-July. In US dollar terms, reserves rose 4.7 percent to USD 20.41 billion, from USD 19.50 billion.

Of the total reserves, those held by NRB grew 6.9 percent to Rs 2,582.38 billion, while reserves held by banks and financial institutions increased 13.7 percent to Rs 298.97 billion. The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 22.5 percent.

Foreign Exchange Adequacy Indicators

According to NRB, based on imports for the first two months of FY 2025/26:

The existing foreign exchange reserves can cover 19.7 months of merchandise imports and 16 months of merchandise and service imports.

The ratios of reserves-to-GDP, reserves-to-imports, and reserves-to-M2 stood at 47.2 percent, 133.1 percent, and 36.6 percent, respectively higher than the ratios recorded in mid-July (43.8%, 128.1%, and 34.1%).

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