India has decided to allow onion exports to Bangladesh and five other countries
As reported by a news media recently, India has decided to allow onion exports to Bangladesh and five other countries through government-to-government route on the recommendation of its Ministry of External Affairs.
India is the second largest onion exporter in the world. But in December 2023, the government of India imposed a ban on onion shipments to control rising onion prices and ensure adequate availability in the market and extended it till March this year due to the upcoming national elections. India initially imposed a 40 percent tariff on onions to discourage its exports but when that move did not yield the desired results, it imposed a ban.
A person familiar with the matter said that while no decision has been taken to lift the ban on onion exports outright, limited quantities of onion exports have been allowed for bilateral purposes. In addition to Bangladesh, five countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bahrain and Mauritius, said exports have been allowed.
The Bangladesh government has sent a formal letter to India to allow shipment of certain quantities of sugar and onions to reduce the price of sugar and onions in the domestic market of Bangladesh during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. India has said that it will send onions to Bangladesh under the bilateral agreement. A total of 50,000 tons of onion will be exported under the bilateral agreement. Indian onions will reach Bangladesh in the first week of March.
A team of Indian government officials visited major onion-producing areas in the western state of Maharashtra earlier this month before recommending the continuation of the export ban.
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