Prices of onion has dropped to as many as Tk 30 a kg in Chattogram after the markets became volatile for long following in India’s ban on the export of onion on September 14.
Since India stopped exporting, onion consignments have been coming from China, Turkey, Myanmar, Egypt and Pakistan.
Traders said imported onions are being sold at a minimum price of Tk 30 a kg while domestic onion being sold at a maximum price of 65 taka a kg.
Mohammad Idris, general secretary of the Khatunganj Onion Storekeepers' Association, said Chinese onions were being sold at Tk 30-35 a kg, Iranian onions at Tk 30-35 a kg, Egyptian onions at Tk 38-40 a kg, Pakistani onions at Tk 40-45 a kg and Myanmar onions are available at Tk 40-45 per kg.
However, domestic onions are being sold at a price of Tk 65 a kg, he added.
Idris said many importers, however, incurred loss since they are selling at a lower price of Tk 10 a kg than that their purchasing price in addition to onions getting rotted.
Rotten onions are being sold at Tk 5 to 10 a kg, he added.
According to the Chattogram port sources, since the onion market turns volatile, some 14,000 tonnes of onion have been imported from different countries and stored in the port with more ships carrying onions are on the way. Importers, however, are not receiving the quick discount from these onion ports as they are not getting adequate price.
To quell the traders’ trouble, huge air-conditioned containers full of onions and fruits have been installed at the port. Ship stays at the jetty extra day since port lacks of spaces to keep these specialized containers on its yard.
The port authorities also wrote to the importers on Monday to remove the air-conditioned containers full of frozen onions and fruits.
Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruq said the importers were not getting discounts from the port for the amount of onions unloading from the ships. As a result, these container yards have been filled.
It is learned that the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agriculture Extension has given permission to release 33,000 tonns of onion through Chittagong port until on Tuesday.
Some 19,000 tonnes have been released so far. The port has accumulated the rest of 14,000 tonnes. There are 322 single containers on board with more on the way.
