Imports of beer raw materials, glass bottles and bottle caps through the Krishnanagar customs checkpoint have been rising steadily in recent years, reflecting the growing scale of Nepal’s beer industry.

In FY 2082/83, beer-related imports through the checkpoint reached around Rs 3.47 billion, including malt, glass bottles and beer caps. Glass bottles alone worth Rs 1.95 billion were imported, generating Rs 506.2 million in customs revenue. Bottle imports have roughly doubled from the previous fiscal year, when imports were valued at Rs 972.57 million.

Malt imports have also increased. In FY 2082/83, Nepal imported 15,409 metric tonnes of malt worth Rs 1.14 billion, compared with 14,123 metric tonnes in the previous fiscal year. The three major breweries using the route include Gorkha Brewery, Yeti Brewery and Raj Brewery, which produce brands including Tuborg, Carlsberg, San Miguel, Arna and Wordwiser.

The rise in imports is linked to increasing beer consumption and production in Nepal. Krishnanagar’s proximity to India’s Firozabad, a major glassware manufacturing centre, along with its road and rail connectivity and relatively quick customs clearance, has made the checkpoint an important entry point for the beer industry.

Beer-related products have also become significant sources of customs revenue at Krishnanagar, with glass bottles ranking fourth by import value and third by revenue, while malt ranks fifth by value and fourth by revenue among major imported goods.