In One Year, U.S. Imports 1,435 Tonnes of Dog Chews from Nepal, Valued at NPR 2.76 Billion

Chhurpi, a traditional Nepali hard cheese, has recently seen a surge in demand and is now being exported to the United States via Kathmandu. Known as “dog chew” in the international market, chhurpi is produced from milk collected through local cooperatives and has become a popular export product.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, Nepal exported 1,435 tonnes of dog chew worth NPR 2.76 billion to the U.S. Overall, chhurpi exports from Nepal reached 1,646 tonnes valued at NPR 3.18 billion in the last fiscal year. The chhurpi export industry has shown remarkable growth, with export sales increasing from 15.6% to 40% between 2017 and 2020, translating to an average annual growth rate of 10-11%. In the last five years, exports have surged by 240%.

The USA remains the primary market for Nepali chhurpi exports. American pet owners spent an average of $442 on dog food and treats in 2020, and demand for chhurpi increased sharply as more people acquired pets during COVID-19 lockdowns. Nepal is estimated to produce around 3,000 tonnes of dog chew annually, with approximately half being exported. Individual companies, such as Lekali Himalayan Dog Chew, export between 30 to 50 tonnes monthly, with the export price reported at around $14 per kg.

A small dog with a green bandana around its neck
Photo by Karsten Winegeart

The Baglung Dairy Cooperative Union, which annually conducts milk and dairy product sales worth around NPR 80 million, exported chhurpi worth NPR 3.85 million to the U.S. in the fiscal year 2080/81 (2023/24). According to Deepak Gautam, President of the Dairy Cooperative Union Baglung, of all dairy products produced by the cooperative—including milk, yogurt, ghee, paneer, and condensed milk—chhurpi has the highest demand internationally. “Milk and other dairy products are largely consumed locally, but chhurpi has found a strong international market,” Gautam explained.

The union consists of 1,500 farmers who produce and sell various dairy products, helping make Baglung district self-sufficient in milk. Last year alone, the cooperative sold NPR 78.3 million worth of milk, NPR 10 million worth of yogurt, NPR 2 million worth of ghee, NPR 3.2 million worth of paneer, and NPR 80,000 worth of condensed milk.

Currently, the cooperative sells chhurpi at NPR 1,200 per kilogram. Farmers have reported increased motivation due to stable pricing and assured markets provided by the cooperative. According to Ganesh Khadka, an accountant at the cooperative, 16 employees assist in distributing milk directly to households within the Baglung market.

Ram Bahadur Jisi, director of the National Cooperative Bank and cooperative advocate, praised this model, noting, “Farmers produce, cooperatives collect, and the union processes and sells dairy products, demonstrating the true spirit of cooperatives.” Milk from farmers in Kathekhola Rural Municipality and Baglung Municipality is collected and marketed through 14 local cooperatives.