Imports from Pakistan to curb onion prices in Mumbai

A fresh batch of 500 kg of onions arrived from Pakistan on Thursday. However, the price of the rapidly dwindling commodity has not come down.

Days after onions from Egypt were brought into the wholesale Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi, a fresh batch of 500 kg of onions arrived from Pakistan on Thursday. However, the price of the rapidly dwindling commodity has not come down.

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Traders, however, felt that just like the onions from Egypt, the new consignment was of poor quality.

The onions from Pakistan are selling at Rs52-54 per kg, which is about Rs6 to 8 less than that of the local stock. The new arrivals are also significantly smaller in size.

“We are expecting the supply to increase with the arrival of new stock from Nashik and Pune in October. It is possible that the price of regular onions may come down in the next two weeks,” said Ashok Walunj, APMC director

Walnuj said that though APMC’s old stock of onions has exhausted, new arrivals from Pakistan, Egypt or even Karnataka will do little to affect local prices.

“These onions do not match up to the regular Indian onions. Though the other onions are priced lower they have few takers, and hence the price of onions continues to remain high” he said.

Onion prices, which were Rs70 per kg, have been hiked to Rs80 per kg in some areas.