Govt imposes 40% duty on export of onions till December 31, 2023 to check price rise

21 Aug 2023 Evaluate

With an aim to increase local supply and check price rise, the government has imposed a 40 per cent duty on the export of onions till December 31, 2023. The export duty, which is the first time ever on onion, has been imposed as the retail sale price of the kitchen staple. Between April 1 and August 4 this fiscal, 9.75 lakh tonne of onions have been exported from the country. The top three importing countries in value terms are Bangladesh, Malaysia and the UAE.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said in order to increase the availability of onions in the domestic market especially in view of the upcoming festival season, the government has decided to impose a 40 per cent duty on the export of onions. He said ‘It was also being noticed that there was a sharp rise in exports in the recent past’. The government had always used a minimum export price tool to curb onion exports. However, for the first time this year, export duty has been slapped for effective control of the outward shipment.

As per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, the all-India average retail price of onion was ruling at Rs 30.72 per kg on August 19, with a maximum price at Rs 63 per kg and a minimum at Rs 10 per kg. In Delhi, onion was ruling at Rs 37 per kg on August 19, as per the data. The trade data showed onion prices ruling at Rs 50 per kg in the national capital. Onion prices have started inching up amid reports of lag in onion coverage in the ongoing kharif season.

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