New Delhi: Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Sarangi has issued marching orders for export ban on onion till further orders.
Looking at the drop in production of onions to an extent of 20 Percent, the export ban has been extended.
Earlier, it was prohibited till 31 March, 2024.
“Export prohibition on export of onions valid till 31st March 2024, is extended until further orders,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification dated 22 March.
DGFT is an arm of the Ministry of Commerce, which deals with exports and imports-related issues.
In the 2023 Rabi season, onion production was estimated to be at 22.7 million tons.
The DGFT has extended the export ban in order to increase domestic availability and keep its prices under check, said sources.
The wholesale prices of onion have spiked by about 43 per cent to Rs 2,549 per quintal (100 kg) from the year-ago levels, market report says.