Las Exportaciones Textiles y de Prendas de Vestir de Nepal

Nepal's textile and clothing sector, particularly ready-made garments and hand-knotted wool carpets, remains a key export source despite structural limitations and declining manufacturing value added. Competitiveness is currently sustained by unique craftsmanship, niche branding, and LDC-based preferential market access. However, the sector faces significant hurdles, including high logistics costs due to its landlocked status, skilled labor shortages, and low productivity, with unit costs estimated to be at least 25% higher than competitors like Bangladesh. The upcoming LDC graduation threatens to increase tariffs and tighten rules of origin, potentially reducing garment exports by 13.3%. The authors argue for a shift in policy from ad-valorem subsidies toward market intelligence, business development services, and improved inter-ministerial coordination, citing Ethiopia's export coordination model as a potential example for success.

• Nepal's overall export performance has declined significantly over 25 years, with goods and services exports falling from 26.3% of GDP in 1997 to 6.8% in 2022, while merchandise exports specifically dropped from 13.1% of GDP in 1999 to 2.9% in 2022.
• The textile and clothing sector is a vital component of merchandise exports, accounting for 31.5% in 2022, with hand-knotted wool carpets representing 12% of the global market for such products.
• Structural competitiveness is hindered by high costs and low productivity; garment exporters estimate their unit costs are at least 25% higher than those in Bangladesh, and wool carpet exporters report costs at least 25% higher than in India.
• Logistical constraints are severe due to Nepal's landlocked status and lack of direct access to western Indian ports, forcing a reliance on expensive air transport to meet delivery deadlines for Western markets.
• LDC graduation is expected to negatively impact the sector through increased tariffs and stricter rules of origin; one WTO study estimates a 13.3% drop in current garment exports, while another suggests an average tariff increase of 6.7%.
• Current government support via Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and export subsidies is deemed ineffective due to poor infrastructure, administrative delays, and a lack of coordination between ministries.

APA

Kharel, P., Dahal, K., & Singh, D. (n.d.). Las Exportaciones Textiles y de Prendas de Vestir de Nepal. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports

Chicago

Kharel, Paras, Kshitiz Dahal, and Dikshya Singh. Las Exportaciones Textiles y de Prendas de Vestir de Nepal. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kharel |first1=Paras |last2=Dahal |first2=Kshitiz |last3=Singh |first3=Dikshya |title=Las Exportaciones Textiles y de Prendas de Vestir de Nepal |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kharelndlas, author = {Kharel, Paras and Dahal, Kshitiz and Singh, Dikshya}, title = {{Las Exportaciones Textiles y de Prendas de Vestir de Nepal}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/nepal-textiles-clothing-exports}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }