Despite the ongoing export ban on onions, India made an exception on Thursday by allowing the overseas sale of a fixed quantity of 54,760 tonnes of this essential kitchen staple to Bangladesh, Mauritius, Bahrain, and Bhutan.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh informed PTI that India has permitted the export of 50,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh, 1,200 tonnes to Mauritius, 3,000 tonnes to Bahrain, and 560 tonnes to Bhutan, effective immediately. These shipments will be facilitated by private traders until March 31, with the specifics currently under discussion.
Singh clarified that this decision follows a recommendation from the Ministry of External Affairs, with several countries expressing interest in procuring onions from India. The Ministry is evaluating each request individually, with final decisions made by a group of ministers.
As of now, the ban on onion exports remains in place until March 31, originally imposed on December 8, 2023, to stabilize domestic supply and curb price inflation. However, sources suggest that the ban is unlikely to be lifted even after March 31, particularly with the anticipation of lower rabi (winter) onion production, especially in Maharashtra.
During the 2023 rabi season, onion production was estimated at 22.7 million tonnes, with rabi onions typically stored for consumption during lean periods. The government also procures rabi onions to maintain buffer stocks. Agriculture ministry officials will evaluate rabi onion coverage in key growing states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat in the coming days.
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