Kathmandu. The import of induction and rice cooker has increased significantly in Nepal till mid-March of the current fiscal year. According to the data of the Department of Customs, electronic devices worth Rs 593.5 million were imported in the last eight months.

During the period, 212,653 rice cookers were imported and 147,864 induction stoves were imported. Rice cooker alone amounted to Rs 249.38 million. The government has collected Rs 7.05 crore in revenue from this.

Similarly, the department collected Rs 43.37 million while imports amounted to Rs 304.11 million.  Tensions in global markets, particularly the US, Israel and Iraq wars, have added to uncertainty in energy supply and fuel markets. Its direct impact has started to be felt in Nepal.

The conflict in the Middle East has raised the risk that crude oil prices will become volatile, shipping costs will increase and the supply of LP gas will be affected. In such a situation, the attraction of consumers towards induction stoves used as alternative energy is increasing.

Consumers say that the improvement in power generation and the end of load shedding have also made the use of induction easier. Amid the war, the demand for rice cookers has also been steadily increasing.  Traders believe that if the tension in the global market is not resolved soon, its demand is likely to increase further.