Les exportations népalaises de textiles et de vêtements épreuves, succès et perspectives d’avenir

Nepal's textile and clothing exports, particularly ready-made garments and hand-knotted wool carpets, remain key revenue sources despite structural obstacles like high logistics costs and labor shortages. While the sector has survived through niche branding and LDC preferential market access, the impending loss of LDC status threatens to increase tariffs and tighten rules of origin. The authors argue that the government should replace inefficient ad valorem subsidies with investments in market information, business development, and inter-institutional coordination to maintain competitiveness.

• Nepal's overall export performance has declined significantly over 25 years, with goods and services exports as a percentage of GDP falling from 26.3% in 1997 to 6.8% in 2022. Merchandise exports specifically dropped from 13.1% of GDP in 1999 to 2.9% in 2022.
• The textile and clothing sector remains a primary merchandise export source, accounting for 31.5% of Nepal's merchandise exports in 2022, with ready-made garments and hand-knotted wool carpets as the two most established sub-sectors.
• High logistics costs and labor issues severely hinder competitiveness; garment exporters estimate their unit costs are at least 25% higher than Bangladeshi competitors, while wool carpet products are at least 25% more expensive than those from India.
• The industry has survived by pivoting from mass production to niche markets, leveraging unique craftsmanship, a positive national image, and preferential market access provided by LDC status, such as duty-free access to European markets.
• Graduating from LDC status is expected to negatively impact the garment sector through increased tariffs and stricter rules of origin; one study estimates a 13.3% drop in exports due to higher duties.
• Current government support, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and export subsidies, is deemed ineffective due to inadequate infrastructure, administrative delays, and a lack of budget, with some subsidies potentially violating WTO rules.
• The authors recommend replacing direct subsidies with support for market intelligence, trade fair participation, brand promotion, and improved inter-institutional coordination, citing Ethiopia's national export coordination committee as a successful model.

APA

Kharel, P., Dahal, K., & Singh, D. (n.d.). Les exportations népalaises de textiles et de vêtements épreuves, succès et perspectives d’avenir. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports

Chicago

Kharel, Paras, Kshitiz Dahal, and Dikshya Singh. Les exportations népalaises de textiles et de vêtements épreuves, succès et perspectives d’avenir. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kharel |first1=Paras |last2=Dahal |first2=Kshitiz |last3=Singh |first3=Dikshya |title=Les exportations népalaises de textiles et de vêtements épreuves, succès et perspectives d’avenir |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kharelndles, author = {Kharel, Paras and Dahal, Kshitiz and Singh, Dikshya}, title = {{Les exportations népalaises de textiles et de vêtements épreuves, succès et perspectives d’avenir}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }