Govt imposes $850/tonne MEP on onion exports; move aims at bringing down spiralling domestic prices
First Post
September 13, 2019
September 13, 2019
New Delhi: The
government on Friday imposed a minimum onion export price of $850 per tonne to
curb its shipments and help bring down spiralling domestic prices.
Onion prices have risen to about Rs 40-50 per kg in the
national capital from Rs 20-30 per kg a few days back.
The Minimum Export Price (MEP) is the rate below which no
exports are allowed.
"Export of all varieties of onions...will be allowed
only on letter of credit subject to a minimum export price of $850 FOB (freight
on board) per metric ton till further orders," the Directorate General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
The Centre last month warned of strict action against
hoarding of onion amid supply disruption fears due to floods in parts of major
growing states - Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Parts of major onion producing states, including
Maharashtra and Karnataka, are reeling under floods, raising fears of supply
disruption.
It had been decided to cap the retail price of onion at
Safal (Mother Dairy outlet) at Rs 23.90 per kg (for Grade A variety).
Retail inflation inched up marginally to 3.21 percent in
August from 3.15 percent in July, mainly due to costlier food items.
The country exports on an average 15 lakh tonnes of onions
a year.
India produces around 17-18 million tonnes of onion per year.
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