Indian onions rotting at border as exports to Bangladesh freeze

Exports of Indian onions to Bangladesh have come to a near standstill, leaving around 30,000 tonnes rotting at the border. Bangladesh is the largest buyer of Indian onions, but the current export halt has put local onion traders in India in a difficult position.

Two months ago, onion exports to Bangladesh were running smoothly. At that time, hundreds of trucks carrying onions passed daily through the Mahdipur border in Malda district and the Hili border in South Dinajpur district. Encouraged by this, traders in Mahdipur had stored around 20,000 metric tonnes of onions, while traders in Hili had stored another 10,000 metric tons.

However, with exports to Bangladesh now suspended, these traders are facing huge losses. To minimize further damage, many are being forced to sell onions at rock-bottom prices.

Mohammed Rubel Hossain, a trader from the Mahdipur border in Malda district, told Jago News, "We buy onions from Nasik in Maharashtra based on export orders to Bangladesh. But as soon as they arrive at the border, we suddenly learn that onions can no longer be exported. Fearing spoilage, we are forced to sell them at very low prices."

Traders at the Petrapole and Ghojadanga land ports in North 24 Parganas had not stocked onions in large quantities and have therefore been somewhat spared.

Kartik Chakraborty, Secretary of the Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association at Petrapole, told Jago News that currently, no onion-laden trucks are waiting at either Petrapole or Ghojadanga land ports.

A visit to local markets shows that comparatively good-quality onions are being sold in Kolkata and nearby towns at around ₹25–30 per kilogram.

Deep Barman, a wholesale onion trader in Kolkata, noted, "Retail onion prices may be slightly higher here. Once onions from the warehouses enter the market, prices could drop further."