Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

The Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods, which disrupted the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border crossing, have sharply increased trade through Nepal’s northern Korala border, with 641 electric vehicles (EVs) entering Nepal in just 15 days.

According to the Mustang Customs Office (MCO), 434 containers and 641 EVs entered Nepal through the Korala border at Lomanthang-4, Nhechung, after the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trade route was completely shut following the devastating floods in the Rasuwa-Nuwakot region on August 26.

On Friday alone, 71 containers and 106 EVs cleared customs and proceeded to their respective destinations, said MCO chief Bidur Chudal.

The surge in trade has also boosted customs revenue. The MCO collected Rs 1.78 billion in revenue during the two-week period ending September 11, including a record Rs 271.1 million in a single day on Friday.

Korala has increasingly emerged as an alternative northern trade route amid repeated disruptions at Nepal’s other border crossings with China. China agreed to open the Korala crossing for commercial operations nearly a year ago after landslides disrupted the Tatopani route and floods affected the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung crossing.

The growing use of Korala comes as Nepal seeks alternative trade routes to maintain the flow of goods and vehicles following disruptions caused by natural disasters.

In fiscal year 2025/26, Nepal collected Rs 6.92 billion in customs revenue from bilateral trade through Korala. Imports through the crossing were valued at Rs 14.41 billion, while exports to China amounted to Rs 205 million.

During the same fiscal year, 3,223 EVs and 1,873 containers received customs clearance through the Korala border, underscoring the crossing’s growing role in Nepal-China trade.

The latest surge in traffic has further highlighted Korala’s potential as a strategic alternative to Nepal’s traditional northern trade routes, particularly when key crossings are disrupted by floods, landslides and other natural disasters.