Govt withdraws curb on onion export

The government has withdrawn the 'export licence' restriction for overseas sale of onion, as the prices of commodity have started to soften in domestic market.

The Director General of Foreign Trade has notified that the export of onions could be undertaken after getting the no-objection certificate from NAFED and 12 other state trading agencies.

The DGFT on October 15 had made it mandatory for exporters to get a licence from it before undertaking export of onions following soaring prices in domestic market. This was in addition to the no-objection certificate through which
onions are exported.

The government also raised the export prices of onion, politically a sensitive commodity, to bring down the domestic prices which went as high as Rs 30 per kg in many parts of the country. However, retail prices of onion have now come down to Rs 16-18 a kg.

The decision to regulate overseas sale coupled with hike in the minimum export price had resulted in a sharp decline in the onion exports during October.

Onion exports have plummeted by 44 per cent during last month to 22,500 tonne compared to 40,490 tonne in the previous month.

"Literally, there was no export taking place after the licence norm was introduced. Only those who had no-objection certificates procured earlier were sending the consignments," a trader said.