Onion Prices Rise 15% in Maharashtra in a Week, More Than Double Since June; Exports Also Pick Up

Onion prices have risen sharply in the mandis of Maharashtra, India’s largest onion-producing state, in recent days. Good-quality onions that were selling at around Rs 4,400 per quintal a week ago have now reached Rs 5,500 per quintal. The average price has also risen to around Rs 4,300 per quintal. Meanwhile, the government is increasing supplies to major onion-consuming centres by rail to contain the rise in prices. Onion exports also increased significantly in June after declining in April-May. As a result, retail onion prices have reached as high as Rs 60 per kg in Delhi and several other places.

According to the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, the average price of onions at Lasalgaon mandi was Rs 3,700 per quintal on August 18, while the maximum price was Rs 4,051 per quintal. By August 24, the average price had risen to Rs 4,251 and the maximum price to Rs 4,545 per quintal. Thus, the average price increased by 15% in a week. Compared with the average price of Rs 2,000 per quintal in June, prices have more than doubled.

Similarly, at Solapur mandi, the average price increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,900 per quintal, while the maximum price rose from Rs 4,400 to Rs 5,500 per quintal. At Nashik mandi, the average price increased from Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200 per quintal, while the maximum price rose from Rs 3,951 to Rs 5,000 per quintal.

Onion Arrivals in Mandis

Abhay Bhise, secretary of the Ahilyanagar APMC, told Rural Voice that the mandi is currently receiving around 48,000-49,000 quintals of onions daily. The average price is between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000 per quintal, while the best-quality onions are being sold at around Rs 5,000 per quintal. However, supplies of this premium-quality onion are limited, as it is being purchased for seed purposes.

According to Atul Singh Rajput, secretary of the Solapur APMC, the mandi received 10,520 quintals of onions on Monday, August 24. While the average price was Rs 2,900 per quintal, the best-quality onions sold for as much as Rs 5,500 per quintal.

Commenting on the rise in prices, Bharat Dighole, president of the Maharashtra State Onion Growers’ Association, said onion prices had remained between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500 per quintal for a long period, causing significant losses to farmers. Although current prices may appear high compared with those levels, he said farmers need an average price of at least Rs 3,000 per quintal.

Government Starts Sale from Buffer Stocks

Onion prices generally rise during August-September due to supply disruptions and festive demand. To address this, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs sells onions from its buffer stock. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare recently said that the government is running the ‘Kanda Express’ from Nashik in Maharashtra to major consumption centres to augment supplies and contain the rise in prices. Onions will be sold at Rs 35 per kg in the retail market through NCCF and NAFED.

The government has a buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions for the current year. In 2025-26, the government procured around 3 lakh tonnes of onions, while procurement stood at 4.7 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Onion production in 2025-26 is estimated at 307.37 lakh tonnes, compared with 307.67 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

The government had set a target of procuring 2 lakh tonnes of onions this year. The procurement price was initially fixed at Rs 1,270 per quintal in May, but very few farmers came forward at that rate. To encourage procurement, the price was revised seven times and eventually increased to Rs 2,645 per quintal.

Onion Exports Pick Up from June

There are currently no restrictions on onion exports. According to Ajay Srivastava of Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s exports of fresh or chilled onions and shallots fluctuated considerably during the first half of 2026 (calender year, according to DGCI&S data. Export value declined from $41.04 million in January to $30.37 million in February, recovered slightly to $32.54 million in March, and then fell sharply to $21.06 million in April - the lowest monthly level. Exports subsequently rebounded to $28.33 million in May and $39.09 million in June, nearly returning to January’s level. Overall exports during January-June stood at $192.43 million, averaging about $32.1 million per month. 

According to Srivastava, the pattern suggests strong month-to-month volatility, likely reflecting seasonal domestic arrivals, changes in Indian prices and supplies, and varying overseas demand. The robust recovery in May and June indicates that April’s decline was temporary rather than evidence of a sustained export slowdown.

To control high domestic onion prices and ensure adequate domestic supplies, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposed a complete ban on onion exports in December 2023. In May 2024, the export ban was lifted, but a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per tonne and a 40% export duty were imposed. In September 2024, the export duty was reduced from 40% to 20%. In April 2025, the remaining 20% export duty was also completely withdrawn.