Kathmandu, Feb. 6 -- Nepal's soyabean oil exports to India have seen an astonishing 45-fold increase in the first half of the current fiscal year, even though Nepal produces very little soyabean itself.

Experts say the dramatic rise is driven by traders cashing in on tariff loopholes in neighbouring India, a recurring pattern in Nepal's trade.

According to the Department of Customs, soyabean oil exports soared to Rs18.91 billion in the first six months of the fiscal year, up from Rs415.19 million in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Nepal's crude soyabean oil imports more than doubled to Rs24.37 billion.

Nepal imported 169,953 tonnes of crude soyabean oil and exported 90,983 tonnes of processed soyabean oil to India. The crude oil...