Onion is quintessential commodity which is integral part of everyday diet of most of the Indians. It’s also a commodity which is equally used by a daily wage labour as a main course with pain roti (bread) or as part of salad and various Indian curries by rich and famous eating in star hotels. It’s also the only vegetable which as the power to overthrow Governments.

Onion retail and wholesale prices in Indian market has soared in the past few months. According to recent news reports, the prices are expected to touch INR 100/Kg. making onions far costlier than most of the pulses which contain more nutrients than onions.

To analyse the increase in the price of onions we will have to first understand the trading pattern for this commodity.

The export-import (EXIM) scenario of onions is highly skewed in the favour of exports as explained below:

EXIM Scenario of Onions in India

1.1 Export Scenario for Onions

India’s export of onions was at US$ 143.36 million in 2004-05 which rose to US$ 376.39 million in 2014-15. India exported US$ 3.71 billion worth of onions during this period.

India - Export Value of Onions (in US$ million)
India – Export Value of Onions (in US$ million)

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