Onion prices continue to remain volatile with the rates shooting up again to the Rs 80/kg level in the retail markets of the national capital. Onion prices have risen again to Rs 75-80 per kg, up by about 30 percent from the Rs 60/kg level in the last week.

According to the traders limited supply has attributed the increase in onion prices especially in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Onion prices in the national Capital have been seesawing between Rs 60/kg and Rs 80/kg in the last two months despite Government measures to curb exports and allow imports.
It is believed that the onion prices in the retail markets would be high as the wholesale rates are ruling at Rs 25-60/kg at Azadpur.

Consumers in other parts of the country have also been affected by the onion price rise. In major cities, onions are sold at over Rs 60 per kg in retail markets. Currently, onion supplies are less than 50 percent of the country’s monthly estimated total demand of 9-10 lakh tonnes. Adding to the price volatility is the fact that storage onions have also been exhausted. Due to exports curbs, onion shipments fell by 28.48 percent to 7,16,246 tonne in the first six months of the current fiscal. India produced 16.3 million tonnes of onion in the 2012-13 crop year.