Amritsar: Snapping of international shipping lines and an unprecedented surge in freight charges have brought onion exports to a near standstill, leaving exporters from Amritsar and across Punjab staring at heavy losses. The crisis has sharply impacted the trade of large-sized onions, even as domestic demand continues to favour smaller bulbs. All onions belong to Allium cepa, but are graded by size. Jumbo onions, typically above 60-90 mm, have traditionally been exported to markets such as Dubai and other Gulf countries, where they are widely used in dishes like biryani, salads, onion rings and rich gravies due to their uniform size and ease of slicing, while here the large-sized bulbs are in demand from hoteliers. However, exporters say the ongoing disruption in shipping connectivity has severely hit trade.Jitendra Khurana, secretary of the Amritsar Fruit and Vegetable Merchants Association, said onions sourced from Nashik in Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat, especially those above 55 mm, were in high demand in Middle Eastern markets. “A container carrying 25-30 tonnes of onions earlier cost around $900 to ship to Dubai. Freight has now shot up to nearly $6000 to $70000 per container, making exports economically unviable,” he said. With exports drying up, the oversupply of large onions in the domestic market has led to a sharp price fall.In wholesale markets, the prices of big-sized onions, which earlier were around ₹14-15 per kg, have declined by ₹4-6 per kg in recent times, he said. The impact is also visible in retail markets.Munshi Lal, a local vegetable vendor, said large onions are witnessing poor demand. “Customers prefer small onions, usually 25-60 mm in size, as they suit Indian households, especially families of two to three members. Jumbo onions often lead to wastage and are inconvenient for daily cooking,” he said. Smaller onions, including varieties similar to shallots, are considered more pungent and practical for routine use, he said.Traders say unless freight rates stabilise and shipping lines resume normal operations, exporters from Punjab will continue to suffer, with the mismatch between export-oriented supply and domestic demand further widening their losses. MSID: 130002627 413 |
