AMN / NEW DELHI

The Government today lifted the ban on onion exports. In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has said that the order effective immediately, is subject to a Minimum Export Price of USD 550 per Metric Ton.

The policy changes comes in the middle of staggered voting in India’s national election in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third term.

Parts of India’s onion producing belt in the western state of Maharashtra are yet to vote.

Last month, the Centre allowed the export of over 99 thousand Metric tonnes of onion to six countries Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

The government had also allowed the export of two thousand metric tonnes of white onion cultivated specially for export markets in West Asia and some European countries. In December last year, the export of Onion was prohibited to ensure adequate domestic availability against the backdrop of estimated lower Kharif and Rabi crops in 2023-24 as compared to the previous year.