Egyptian Onions Flood Vashi APMC at ₹38-40/kg, Hotels Buy Cheaper Imports

Egyptian onions have entered the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, with traders purchasing them at ₹30-32 per kg and selling at ₹38-40 per kg. Two containers arrived mid-week after approximately 450 containers reached Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). Indian onions currently trade at ₹40-50 per kg in the wholesale market.

Hotel operators are buying the cheaper Egyptian variety for vegetable preparations, but households largely prefer Indian onions. Traders note that Egyptian onions lack the quality needed for gravies and other traditional preparations. Despite the price advantage, the quality gap is unlikely to drive large-scale replacement of Indian onions in the near term.

Indian onion prices remain elevated, with wholesale rates touching ₹55 per kg earlier this year and retail prices now ranging from ₹70-80 per kg. The significant price difference has prompted some commercial bulk buyers to opt for imported alternatives, even as domestic supplies struggle to meet demand.