NEW DELHI : The Centre has imposed 40% duty on onion exports till December 31 to check the rise in prices. The export duty comes amid reports that onion prices are likely to rise in September.
“To improve the domestic availability of onions, government imposes 40% export duty on onions with immediate effect upto December 31, 2023,” the Finance Ministry said in a notification.

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 Saturday, 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 Saturday, as per the data. The trade data showed onion prices ruling at Rs 50 per kg in the national capital. Earlier government had announced to release 3 lakh tonnes of onion from its buffer stock to increase availability.

In the 2022-23 fiscal, the government had maintained 2.51 lakh tonnes of onion as buffer stock. The buffer stock is maintained under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to meet any exigencies, if rates go up significantly during the lean supply season.

Onion that is procured for the buffer stock is from the just completed rabi season. Presently, the kharif onion sowing is underway and its arrival begins in October.