The Indian government allowed an additional 10,000 tonnes of onion exports to the UAE, apparently to meet the anticipated high demand during the forthcoming festival period.
The exports are to be routed through the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL).
The additional export of onion will be on top of the 14,400 tonnes shipment the Indian government permitted last month to the UAE.
“Exports of additional 10,000 tonnes of onions… to UAE through NCEL over and above the quota notified vide DGFT notification…dated March 1, 2024, is allowed,” India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.
Though onion exports are banned, the government allows specified quantities of shipments to friendly nations on their requests.
India exported 975,000 tonnes of onions between April 1, 2023 and August 4, 2023.
The top three importing countries in value terms were Bangladesh, Malaysia and the UAE.
Tight global supplies and a dry spell induced by the El Niño weather phenomenon had prompted the government to restrict onion exports during the 2023-24 financial year.
