Sat Mar 22 20:21:12 UTC 2025: ## India Lifts Export Duty on Onions Amidst Surplus Production
**New Delhi, March 23, 2025** – The Indian government announced the removal of a 20% export duty on onions, effective April 1st, citing softening prices and a desire to support farmers. The decision, announced Saturday, follows a recommendation from the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The export duty, implemented in September 2024, was intended to manage domestic onion supplies. Despite export restrictions, India exported 1.17 million tonnes of onions by March 18th, 2025. Monthly exports climbed significantly, from 72,000 tonnes in September 2024 to 185,000 tonnes in January 2025.
Recent price declines spurred the government’s action. Wholesale prices at major markets in Maharashtra have fallen to around ₹1,330 per quintal. Nationally, weighted average modal prices have decreased by 39%, with retail prices dropping 10% in the past month.
The Ministry of Agriculture anticipates a robust rabi (winter) onion harvest of 22.7 million tonnes, an 18% increase compared to last year. This substantial increase, representing 70-75% of India’s total onion production, is expected to further stabilize prices in the coming months.
The government previously implemented various measures to manage onion supplies, including a complete export ban from December 2023 to May 2024. The removal of the export duty marks a shift in strategy, prioritizing farmers’ interests while ensuring consumer affordability.
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