India bans onion export until Mar 31

India has banned the export of onions to other countries effective from December 8, says a notification issued by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, report agencies.
The ban on export of onion will be in place till March 31 next year, according to the notification.
The decision has been made to increase domestic availability and to keep prices in check.
Bangladesh is among the top three importing countries in value terms. Other two countries include Malaysia and the UAE.
India exported 0. 97 million tonnees of onions between April 1 and August 4 this fiscal. New Delhi vendors are selling onions at Rs 70-Rs 80 per kg
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification said the export of onions will be, however, allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government to other countries based on the request made by the countries.
According to the notification, consignments of onions will be allowed to be exported on fulfillment of any one of the following three conditions Shipments of onion, whose loading had commenced before this notification, are allowed to be exported.
Further, where shipping bill is filed and vessels have already berthed and anchored in Indian ports for loading of onion and their rotation number has been allocated before this notification that shipment is also allowed for exports.
Exports of onion are also permitted if "consignments of onion has been handed over to the customs before this notification and is registered in their system/ where onions consignment has entered the customs station for exportation before this notification and is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned custodian of the customs station with verifiable evidence of date and time stamping of these commodities having entered the station prior to December 8".
The period of exports for such consignments shall be up to January 5 next year.
The approval of loading in such vessels will be issued only after confirmation by the concerned Port Authorities regarding anchoring/berthing of the ship for loading of onions prior to the notification.
Earlier on August 20, the Revenue Department of the Indian Finance Ministry imposed a 40 per cent duty on onion exports to Bangladesh, causing a hike in the price of the item mainly used as spice in local markets.
Later, the Indian government set a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 800 per tonne on a free-on-board basis for the export of onions with effect from October 29.