Imports of Mobile phones have experienced a dynamic change in 2024, according to the Department of Customs. With the growing trends of tech in the market, people are more focused on buying mid-range and 5G smartphones which indicates the technological advancement and economic growth of the nation. Popular smartphones like Xiaomi, Samsung, and Vivo are leading the Nepali market as they provide smartphones with good features in low budget. Let’s see the key trends of Mobile Imports.

Imports of Smartphones in Nepal

According to the data of the Department of Customs, Mobile phone imports rose significantly in the first financial quarter (mid-July to mid-October 2024). Nepal imported around 650000+ mobile phones which are valued at around NPR 9.83 billion.

Similarly, in mid-September and mid-October of 2024, Nepal imported almost 270000 smartphones that cost almost NPR 3.12 billion. By this given data, we can assume that the steady demand for Smartphones in the Nepali market is growing along with the rise in 5G smartphones.

The monthly breakdown also illustrates that there is growth in mid-range and budget smartphones during the promotional campaign of Dashain and Tihar.

Impact of MDMS

The introduction of the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) helps the government to gain revenue from Import Tax, as the system ensures only legally imported phones can be active in Nepal. This system not only helps in the economic growth of the country but also stops the illegal phone from entering Nepal.

Customer Behavior

The majority of customers want to have a smartphone priced between NPR 12,000 and NPR 30,000 due to the budget problem. Customers also make sure that the device they are buying provides quality features in that price range. Due to this, Brands like Xiaomi and Samsung have the competition in the Nepali market.

Digital Integration

After COVID-19, Smartphones were commonly used for online classes, meetings, remote work as well as for entertainment purposes. Moreover, as 5G becomes more accessible, people are more likely to invest in future-proof smartphones to get upgraded according to the market trends even though 5G networks are not fully available here.

Conclusion

It is good to see that there is the growth in the imports of smartphones have increased significantly to that of last year. But would be much better if, Nepal reduced imports and started focusing on the manufacture and assembly of Smartphone parts. This will not only increase the economy but also create employment opportunities who want to work in their own country.

If the government starts working on a collaboration with global tech companies, then Nepal could strengthen its position in the global market.