KATHMANDU: Nepal News presents today’s snapshot of Nepal’s economic activities. Get quick updates on major market movements, policy shifts, and financial developments shaping the economy of Nepal. Here are the key economic highlights for today:

Processed Fuels Cost Higher Than Crude Oil: NOC:

In view of rising public concern over fuel prices in the national market, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has said the retail prices of petroleum products in local markets are determined based on international prices. It further clarified that the prices of processed oils are always higher than those of crude oil, as Nepal does not have its own refinery. This requires the country to directly import processed fuels instead of crude oil. While analyzing the market prices of petroleum products in Nepal, they should not be compared with crude oil prices, but rather with the prices of processed fuels, said NOC spokesperson Manoj Thakur. The NOC purchases petroleum products from the Indian Oil Corporation and prices are adjusted automatically every 15 days based on the rates it pays to the IOC. According to data cited by the NOC, on April 16, 2026, the price of crude oil per barrel was 99.6 US dollars, while petrol was traded at 139.3 US dollars and diesel at 228.1 US dollars. Under normal circumstances, there is typically a difference of around 10 US dollars between crude oil and petrol, and around 20 US dollars between crude oil and diesel. Recently, however, this gap has widened to 144 US dollars and 216 US dollars respectively due to international adversity triggered by the Gulf tension.

Rural Farmers Drawn To Sugarcane Farming And Jaggery Production: 

Farmers in the rural areas of Dadeldhura have been increasingly attracted to sugarcane farming and the production of jaggery. As jaggery can be stored and sold for years and is preferred by locals over commercially produced varieties, many farmers are turning toward this traditional yet profitable practice. Unlike vegetables and other cash crops, which often face market shortages during peak production periods, jaggery does not suffer from such problems. Sugarcane farming also avoids the issue of rapid decay seen in vegetables. According to Narendra Paneru, chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Dadeldhura, jaggery production has started to provide good profits for farmers. He said that as jaggery can be stored at home and sold even after several years, the center has been supporting farmers with various subsidy programs for sugarcane cultivation and jaggery production. Narendra Bista, a young farmer from Jamarani village in Parashuram Municipality-8, said he has modernized his family’s traditional occupation of producing jaggery. He has established a jaggery production unit by installing a sugarcane processing mill in the village.

Infrastructure Projects In Chitwan Face Stoppage Due To Rising Costs: 

A total of 125 infrastructure projects managed by the Infrastructure Development Office, Chitwan, are on the verge of suspension. The surge in prices for fuel and essential construction materials has made it impossible to continue work on these contracts. According to Office Chief Birendra Kumar Chaudhary, out of 267 projects under the office, 217 are currently under contract and in operation. He stated that 125 of these are now facing potential closure. He attributed this to the significant rise in fuel prices and shortages of bitumen compared to the time when the contracts were signed. Chief Chaudhary said, “Contractors have submitted letters to the office demanding a ‘construction holiday’ (a process to temporarily halt projects that can be paused).” He noted that the overall inflation triggered by rising fuel costs is severely impacting infrastructure development. Although 50 projects were designated to be handled by consumer committees, work on those has also stalled. The office is currently constructing 19 bridges, alongside various road construction projects. Office Chief Chaudhary warned, “If this situation persists, 50 to 60 percent of the projects initiated by this office will not be completed.” The office, which operates with a budget of Rs 670 million, has informed contractors that it will proceed according to government decisions.

Bird Flu: 227 Thousand Chickens Being Culled In Two Farms In Koshi: 

Bird flu has spread in the Sunsari Poultry Farm, the largest poultry in Koshi Province. Preparations are underway to cull over 155,000 chickens of the farm. It is the first time in the province that so many chickens are being culled due to bird flu. The farm is located at Ramdhuni Municipality in Sunsari district. Similarly, the government team is also preparing to cull some 72,000 chickens of a farm of the Purbanchal Group located at Budhiganga in Morang district. The livestock service department had confirmed bird flu infection in the farms two days ago. Dr Manoj Kumar Mahato, chief of veterinary hospital and livestock service expert center, Sunsari, said that some 7,000 chickens have already died due to infection. To prevent further spread of the infection to other areas, the remaining chickens in the farm are to be culled and a big team of human resource has been mobilized to cull so large number of chickens, said Dr Mahato. He said 110 people are deployed for culling and burying the chickens.

Nepal To Appoint Regulatory Bodies For Private Sector And NGOs To Curb Corruption: 

The Government of Nepal is set to appoint regulatory bodies for the private sector and non-governmental organizations. This measure is being implemented to control potential financial irregularities and corruption within these entities. Currently, many organizations are registered and operational, but there is no clarity regarding their regulatory oversight. Many manufacturing and commercial business entities have not yet fallen under this scope. This provision is mentioned in the ‘Second Five-Year National Strategic Plan Against Corruption’ introduced by the government. With the implementation of this plan, no private company or organization will remain outside the direct regulation and surveillance of the state. According to the strategic plan, regulatory bodies will be appointed within one year for companies.

Rani Customs Point Remains Flexible For Shoppers: 

While the government claims to have tightened controls at border points to curb revenue leakage, it remains relatively easy for Nepali consumers to bring essential goods through the Rani border point in Biratnagar. In areas such as Gaurigunj in Jhapa and Baradanga and Rangeli in Morang, considered minor customs points, Armed Police Force personnel and customs authorities have issued strict directives requiring customs duties to be paid on goods worth more than Rs 100. Public announcements are regularly made to inform consumers. However, despite these measures, the flow of Nepali consumers to the Indian border market of Jogbani has not declined. Compared to markets in Biratnagar, the volume of Nepali shoppers in Jogbani remains significantly higher. The price gap between Nepali and Indian markets continues to drive consumers across the border, often at personal risk.

Destructive Fungal Infection Likely To Decline Mango Production In Banke: 

Mango farming in Banke has been severely affected by powdery mildew (Oidium mangiferae), locally known as the Madhuwa disease. This destructive fungal disease, which has appeared as mango plants are about to bear fruit, has left farmers worried over significant crop loss. “If the plants are affected by the disease, yields can drop drastically,” said a mango farmer Abdulla Wajid Sai of Janaki Rural Municipality–1. According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Banke, the disease manifests as a white, powdery coating on leaves, flowers and fruits. This leads to premature shedding and significantly reduces production. The Center has been providing consultations and recommending appropriate pesticides to curb the spread of the disease. Senior Crops Development Officer and Information Officer Santosh Pathak is of the view that ‘prevention is better than cure’. He recommended applying pesticides before the fruit bearing stage, as late application turns largely ineffective once the fungus has spread. There is a high likelihood of the mango production across the district declining significantly, according to officials.

Spring Climbing Season Begins: 9 People Successfully Scaled Mt Dhaulagiri: 

With the onset of spring season, climbing expedition on Dhaulagiri has begun. Located at Dhaulagiri rural municipality-4, Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world with its height of 8,167 meters from sea level. Nine climbers—five Nepalis and four foreigners, made the first successful ascent of the current spring season on Saturday. All of them had gone for climbing through Imagine Nepal Company. According to Imagine Nepal, Liu Hong, Liu Yishi, Wang Zhong of China, Christine Vogondy of Switzerland, Fur Gyalgen Sherpa, Pasang Namgel Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Ngima Nuru Sherpa and Pema Chirri Sherpa of Nepal reached the summit of Mt. Dhaulagiri around 11:00 am on Saturday. A leader of the team, Fur Gyalgen Sherpa shared that the team safely returned to Basecamp III. Total 28 climbers—12 women and 16 men of three groups have obtained permit to scale Mt. Dhaulagari in spring season, according to the Department of Tourism. The country has received Rs 12.56 million in royalties from this, said Section Officer at the Department, Sharmila Banjade.

Gold, Silver Prices Rise Today: 

The prices of both gold and silver increased in the Nepali market today. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has been set at Rs 301,000 per tola today. This is an increase of Rs 1,200 compared to the previous (Friday) trading session. Previously, on Friday, gold was priced at Rs 299,800 per tola. Similarly, the Federation stated that the price of silver has also increased by Rs 95, reaching Rs 5,225 per tola.

Sikta Irrigation Project Achieves Just 46% Progress In Two Decades: 

The Sikta Irrigation Project, which is being constructed in Banke district, has achieved just 46 per cent of progress since two decades of the project commencement. The project was initiated in the fiscal year 2061/62 BS (2004/05). Director of the Project, Raju Acharya, said that a total of Rs 23.77 billion was spent so far, which is 44.95 per cent of the fiscal progress and 46 per cent of the physical progress. Acharya shared that Rs 3.30 billion has been proposed for this fiscal year and Rs 1.57 billion was spent as of now. “More than Rs 857.79 million has been spent as of the Nepali month of Chaitra in the current fiscal year,” Acharya added. The project being built by constructing a dam in the Rapti River in Raptisonari Rural Municipality-3 is expected to irrigate 42,766 hectares of land. As of now, the project has ensured irrigation facility to 24,000 hectares of land. Information Officer of the Project and Senior Divisional Engineer Manoj Kumar Sah said that the multi-year project would be completed in three phases and Rs 12.8 billion is estimated for the first two phases of the project development. The cost of the third phase is not included in this.

Deendayal Port Authority Facilitates Dispatch Of LNG Tanks By INOX India For Bahamas Project: 

Deendayal Port Authority has facilitated the dispatch of cryogenic LNG tanks by INOX India Limited for a mini-LNG terminal project in The Bahamas, the port authority said on Sunday. “Kandla Port is proud to be the gateway for yet another global milestone. The dispatch of LNG tanks by INOXCVA for the mini-LNG Terminal project at The Bahamas underscores our commitment to facilitating complex, high-value cargo,” the port authority said in a post on X. It added that the development reflects its role in “powering India’s rise in global energy infrastructure,” and extended “best wishes to INOX India Limited and all stakeholders for this remarkable achievement.” Confirming the development, INOX India Limited said the shipment marks progress in its overseas LNG project. “Grateful to Deendayal Port Authority for enabling the dispatch of our first batch of 1500 m³ tanks–a proud step towards our landmark LNG terminal project in the Bahamas,” the company said in a separate post. The company further said it remains “committed to driving the energy transition with innovative cryogenic engineering.” Earlier, on April 16, the company had termed the dispatch a key milestone for the project.

Fuel Price Hikes In Nepal Trigger Cross-Border Fuel Rush In India: 

Following the rise in petroleum prices in Nepal, there has been a surge in the number of Nepali vehicles at Indian border areas. This influx has led to fuel shortages for residents in the Indian border regions. The price of petroleum in Indian border areas is significantly lower than in Nepal. Taking advantage of this price disparity, many Nepalis are crossing the border with their vehicles to refuel. According to Indian media, SDM Naveen Prasad of Nautanwa, Uttar Pradesh, has issued strict orders to address local concerns and curb fuel black marketing. It has been mandated that Nepali vehicles will now be provided with limited quantities of fuel in the region. Under the new rules, two-wheelers will be limited to a maximum of 3 liters, small four-wheelers to 10 liters, and large vehicles to 20 liters of diesel or petrol. The fuel shortage has also led to rising tensions at the border. Frequent disputes occur between local residents and Nepali drivers due to long waiting times in queues.

Tanahun To Construct Bakhan Singh Memorial Park: 

A park and statue are to be constructed in Tanahun in memory of Bakhan Singh Gurung, the pioneer of Nepal’s cooperative movement and its first cooperative campaigner. A program held in Damauli on Saturday, marking the 127th Bakhan Singh Memorial Day, resolved to give concrete shape to the construction of a park and statue in his honor. Mayor of Byas Municipality, Baikuntha Neupane, announced that the municipality would allocate budget to institutionalize Gurung’s contribution. “Honoring the individual who laid the foundation of cooperatives in Nepal is the responsibility of the state. The municipality could bear 50 per cent of the total cost of constructing the park and statue, with the remaining 50 per cent to be contributed by cooperative institutions in the district,” he said. Devi Bahadur Basnet, a member of the Byas Municipal Academy, noted the significant sacrifices made by the Gurung family in establishing democracy and advancing social transformation. He said that Gurung’s two sons, Dharma Dhwoj Gurung and Lal Dhwoj Gurung, who had entered politics after serving in the military and later rose to become ministers, also attained martyrdom during the democratic movement.

Global Oil Shocks May Hit US Growth, India’s Impact Likely Limited: SBI Research: 

Slowdown in the US economy amid rising geopolitical tensions and energy shocks has raised concerns with limited but notable implications for India, noted a report by SBI research. The report has flagged concerns over a potential slowdown in the US economy amid rising geopolitical tensions and energy shocks, but noted that “this time may be different” compared to past recessionary cycles, with limited but notable implications for India. According to the report, historical trends suggest that every major global oil shock has typically been followed by a recession in the United States. Episodes such as the 1973 oil embargo, the 1979 Iran crisis, the Gulf War, and the 2008 global financial crisis all saw sharp spikes in crude prices preceding economic contractions in the US. However, the report underlines key structural differences in the current scenario. Unlike earlier periods, the US economy today is relatively energy self-sufficient and has transitioned into a net energy exporter. This shift implies that higher oil prices may not drain domestic resources as severely as before, since increased energy spending remains within the country. Additionally, US households are currently benefiting from substantial tax refunds, which could cushion consumption and delay or soften any downturn.