Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried/Dehydrated
Industry PositionProcessed Food Ingredient (Intermediate)
Market
Dried potato flakes (HS 110520: flakes, granules and pellets of potatoes) enter Nepal primarily as an imported, shelf-stable potato ingredient. UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS interface shows Nepal’s recorded imports of HS 110520 are dominated by India (e.g., 2022 imports and 2024 India exports to Nepal). Nepal is a potato-growing country (potato is described by FAO as a major food crop in Nepal’s mid-hills and mountains), but the HS 110520 market signal in trade data is import-led rather than export-led. Market access and continuity are therefore shaped mainly by cross-border logistics and by Nepal’s food and customs compliance processes overseen by DFTQC and the Department of Customs, including workflows routed through the Nepal National Single Window (NNSW).
Market RoleImport-dependent ingredient market (net importer)
Domestic RoleUsed as an input for Nepal’s packaged food and snack manufacturing and for institutional/foodservice convenience formats; supply is primarily imported.
SeasonalityBecause flakes/granules are dehydrated, Nepal market availability is inventory- and logistics-driven rather than harvest-season constrained; storage risk rises during the June–September monsoon period due to higher ambient moisture exposure if packaging/warehousing is weak.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Customs/trade classification anchor: HS 110520 (flakes, granules and pellets of potatoes).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Regional supplier (India-dominant in recent trade records) → overland transport to Nepal → customs & food clearance workflows (Customs/NNSW/DFTQC touchpoints) → importer warehousing → distribution to food manufacturers/wholesale channels
Temperature- Ambient-stable product, but quality is sensitive to moisture ingress; storage in dry conditions is critical during Nepal’s monsoon season.
Shelf Life- Dehydrated format supports longer shelf life than fresh potatoes, but caking/off-odors and spoilage risk increase if humidity control and moisture-barrier packaging are inadequate.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeLand
Risks
Logistics HighSupply disruption risk is acute because Nepal’s recorded imports of HS 110520 (potato flakes/granules/pellets) are dominated by India in recent UN Comtrade/WITS data; border congestion, policy frictions, or transport interruptions on India–Nepal corridors can rapidly constrain availability and raise landed costs.Hold safety stock for critical manufacturing users, qualify at least one non-India contingency supplier route where feasible, and build contracts that specify lead-time buffers and border-delay handling.
Regulatory Compliance MediumDocumentation or compliance mismatches can trigger holds or rework because imported foods are overseen within Nepal’s food regulatory system led by DFTQC and processed via Customs/NNSW workflows.Pre-validate HS classification, labeling language/content, and any DFTQC-linked permit or recommendation steps in NNSW before shipment dispatch; align invoice/packing list to the declared HS 110520 product form.
Storage & Quality MediumMoisture ingress and caking/quality loss risk increases during Nepal’s monsoon period (most rainfall June–September), especially if warehousing and last-mile distribution lack humidity control.Specify moisture-barrier packaging, require dry warehousing and palletization, and implement incoming QC checks (odor, caking, moisture proxy tests) during monsoon months.
Sustainability- Energy and emissions footprint sensitivity in upstream dehydration processing (typically outside Nepal) and in cross-border trucking into landlocked Nepal; buyers may request carbon/energy disclosures for processed ingredients.
FAQ
What HS code is typically used for dried potato flakes in trade reporting for Nepal?The relevant Harmonized System subheading is HS 110520, defined as “flakes, granules and pellets; of potatoes.”
Where does Nepal source most of its potato flakes/granules/pellets imports from in recent trade data?UN Comtrade data accessed via the World Bank WITS interface shows Nepal’s recorded HS 110520 imports are dominated by India (e.g., the main supplier in 2022 import records and in 2024 India export-to-Nepal records).
Which government bodies and systems are most directly relevant to importing this product into Nepal?Food import compliance is overseen within Nepal’s system led by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), while customs clearance is handled by the Department of Customs; Nepal National Single Window (NNSW) supports tariff search and digital trade processing, and DFTQC has issued notices referencing food import/export application through NNSW.