Nepal – Aircraft and PartsNepal - Aircraft and Parts

Overview

The number of international and domestic air passengers has increased dramatically in recent years.  Nepal received a record 940,000 foreign visitors in 2017, up from 729,550 a year earlier.The new government announced its intention of welcoming 2 million visitors to Nepal in 2 years for “Visit Nepal Year – 2020”.  According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), 28 international carriers and 13 domestic carriers provide service to Nepal, and the total number of air travelers in 2016 was 3.51 million (this includes 1.76 million international travelers and 1.75 domestic travelers), up from 3.21 million in 2015.  Domestic airline operators registered a 28 percent increase in passengers in 2016 and at least two local airlines (Buddha Air and Shree Airlines) plan to start flying international routes in the near future.
 
 Exports/Imports of Aircraft and Parts (U. S. $ thousands)

	2014	2015	2016	2017 (Estimated)
Total Local Production	0	0	0	0
Total Exports	0	0	0	0
Total Imports	58,095.42	154,482.89	80,508.94
Imports from the US	9,548.50	7,080.16	9,686.95
Total Market Size	58,095.42	154,482.89	80,508.94	100.000.00
Exchange Rates	98.55	99.79	106.65	107.92

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
Total Imports:  Trade and Economic Promotion Center, Nepal
Imports from U.S.:  Trade and Economic Promotion Center, Nepal

Leading Sub-Sectors

The best sub-sector prospects for U.S. businesses include aircraft spare parts and sales of small aircraft. As a number of domestic airlines look towards expanding regionally and expanding their fleet, prospects for aircraft sales should pick up.

Opportunities

Private airlines in Nepal mushroomed in the early 1990s, providing opportunities for the sale of new and used short-haul, turboprop passenger aircrafts. U.S. businesses are advised to target the aircraft spare parts market through establishing direct links with domestic airlines operators in Nepal.  Nepal’s private airlines, which previously limited their operations to the domestic sector, are gradually entering international operations.

Web Resources

• United States International Trade Commission
• Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal
• Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
• Trade and Economic Promotion Center, Nepal
• Buddha Air
• Simrik Airlines
• Sita Air
• Tara Air
• Yeti Airlines

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.