Centre extends export ban on onion till further orders

NEW DELHI : The Centre has extended the export ban on onion till further orders. The decision has been taken to increase domestic availability and to keep the prices of onion under check. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification said that prohibition on export of onions was valid till 31st March 2024 and it is extended until further orders.

In December last year, the Government had banned the export of onions. However, it allowed the export of onions to friendly countries on a case-to-case basis. The export of onions to friendly countries is allowed on a case-to-case basis after approval from the inter-ministerial group. The government has permitted exports of 64,400 tonnes of onion to the UAE and Bangladesh through the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL).

Earlier, the Centre, in October 2023, had decided to step up the sale of buffer onion stock at a subsidised rate of Rs 25 per kg in retail markets in order to provide relief to consumers.
To control prices, the government has earlier taken several steps. It had imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 800 per tonne on onion exports on October 28 till December 31, 2023.
In August, India had imposed a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31, 2023. Onion is a politically sensitive commodity.