India Imposes 40 pct Duty on Onion Exports
People buy onions at an onion wholesale market in Kolkata, India, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Tumpa Mondal)
- By Xinhua News Agency
- August 20, 2023 8:54 AM
NEW DELHI -- Indian government Saturday imposed a 40 percent duty on the export of onions.
The order was issued by the federal finance ministry with the aim to check the price rise and ensure ample supplies of the essential Indian kitchen ingredient in the domestic market.
As per the notification, export duty on onions shall come into force with immediate effect and will remain applicable until Dec. 31, 2023.
The decision to impose the 40 percent duty on the export of onions came as prices of the commodity continued to rise in August. Reports said onion prices are likely to increase further the next month.
On Aug. 11, the federal government started releasing onion from its buffer stock to contain the prices. Buffer stock is maintained for price stabilization and to meet any exigencies.
In June tomato prices in India began to skyrocket. The tomato retail prices across major cities in India remained up to three U.S. dollars a kilo.
Last week federal finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the country's parliament India has started importing tomatoes from neighboring Nepal.
