Silver Price in Nepal Today

About the Silver Market in Nepal

Silver holds cultural and economic significance in Nepal. It is widely used for making traditional jewelry, religious items, utensils, and ornamental pieces. The silver market in Nepal is regulated by FENEGOSIDA, which publishes daily silver prices based on international market rates and local conditions.

Unlike gold, silver is more affordable and accessible, making it a popular choice for everyday jewelry and gifts during festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and weddings. Silver items are considered auspicious in Nepali culture and are often gifted during special occasions.

Silver Measurement in Nepal

In Nepal, silver is measured in Tola, the same traditional South Asian unit used for gold. The key conversions are:

• 1 Tola = 11.664 grams
• 1 Tola = 0.375 troy ounces
• 10 Tola = 116.64 grams
• 1 kg = 85.735 Tola

Silver vs Gold as Investment

While gold is the traditional investment metal in Nepal, silver offers some distinct advantages:

• Lower entry point — Silver costs significantly less per tola than gold, making it accessible to more investors.
• Industrial demand — Silver has growing industrial applications in electronics, solar panels, and medical equipment.
• Higher volatility — Silver tends to move more dramatically than gold, which can mean bigger gains (or losses).
• Cultural value — Silver jewelry and items retain cultural significance and can be resold.

Factors Affecting Silver Price in Nepal

• International silver spot price on commodity exchanges
• USD/NPR exchange rate (silver is priced in USD globally)
• Import duties and taxes levied by the Nepal government
• Local supply and demand dynamics
• Festival and wedding seasons affecting demand
• Industrial demand trends globally

Silver Market in Nepal

Silver has a long and cherished tradition in Nepal, particularly in the craft of jewelry making and religious artifacts. Nepali silver jewelry is renowned for its intricate designs, with artisans in Patan (Lalitpur) being especially famous for their silverwork skills passed down through generations. Silver is used to create traditional ornaments like dhungri, bulaki, and tilahari, as well as religious items such as puja thali, kalash, and deity figurines. Beyond cultural use, silver also has growing industrial applications in electronics, solar panels, and medical equipment, which contributes to global demand and price movements.

The silver price in Nepal closely tracks the international silver spot price but is also influenced by the USD/NPR exchange rate, import duties, and local market demand. Silver's price relationship to gold is often expressed as the gold-to-silver ratio – historically, this ratio has ranged from 40:1 to 90:1, meaning it takes 40 to 90 ounces of silver to buy one ounce of gold. When this ratio is high, silver is considered relatively undervalued compared to gold, and vice versa.

Buying Silver in Nepal

When purchasing silver in Nepal, buyers should be aware of the purity standards and measurement conventions. Silver is priced per tola (11.664 grams), the same traditional unit used for gold. The most common purity level for silver jewelry in Nepal is 92.5% (Sterling Silver), though pure silver (99.9%) is also available for investment purposes. Patan's silver shops and Asan Tole in Kathmandu are popular destinations for buying silver jewelry and artifacts.

To ensure you are getting genuine silver, look for hallmark stamps or buy from reputable dealers registered with FENEGOSIDA. Making charges for silver jewelry are typically lower than gold jewelry on a percentage basis, but can vary depending on the intricacy of the design. When selling silver back, expect to receive the prevailing market rate minus a small deduction for purity testing. It is recommended to keep purchase receipts and any hallmark certificates for future resale.

Frequently Asked Questions