Nepal's exports to neighboring China increased by 254 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2012/13, officials said Monday.

According to Trade and Export Promotion Centre, rise in the demand for carpets and medicinal herbs were the main reasons for the exports' upward movement.

There was a surge of 479 percent in carpets' export, while it was an increase of 478 percent in medicinal herbs exports.

These figures were followed by the exports of metal idols (406 percent rise) and seconded by animal hide and skin (376 percent rise) and wheat flour (203 percent increase) exports, respectively.

In the review period, Nepal's exports to China reached Rs 1.21 billion (around 15 million U.S. dollars from Rs 342.4 million ( around 4 million U.S. dollars) -- a growth of 254 percent.

"Demands for Nepali goods are increasing in China's Tibet as well as coastal region," Suyash Khanal, Director of the Centre, was quoted as saying by the Republica. "China's liberal trade policy and positive impact of trade fairs between the two countries helped Nepal boost up its exports," said Ngaindra Upadhyay, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce.

"We can increase exports by even higher rates, provided that we succeed enhancing our supply capacity in line with the demands," he added.

In the same period, Nepal's imports from China climbed up by 36. 7 percent and settled at Rs 30.59 billion (about 36 million U.S. dollars). Endi