Nashik’s onion market is witnessing a fresh phase of recovery, with red onion exports stabilising after a brief spell of price pressure caused by heavy arrivals. Kiran Gandurde, Co-founder of Matoshree Fresh Foods, said export-grade red onions are currently trading between USD 11 and 16.5 per quintal, rebounding from last week’s lows of USD 9 to 14 per quintal when excess supply had flooded the market. Demand, which had softened temporarily, has since returned strongly, particularly from Gulf buyers.
Gulf countries continue to account for the lion’s share of red onion exports from Nashik, while markets such as Vietnam, Colombo and Malaysia are also maintaining steady demand. However, Bangladesh’s imports have declined sharply to just 10–15 per cent of last year’s volumes as the country prioritises domestic production. The drop has created a gap that Indian exporters are now seeking to fill in alternative destinations. Gandurde noted that daily arrivals of red onions in Nashik are expected to taper in the coming weeks, a development that could lend further support to prices.
The pink or Garwa onion season is set to commence in mid-March, bringing with it stronger demand from African markets and Malaysia, in line with last year’s trends. Exporters are preparing for early shipments despite typical new-crop quality challenges. Europe, particularly the UK, also remains an important destination for pink varieties. However, ongoing rerouting of vessels via the Cape of Good Hope has extended transit times to Southampton by 5 to 10 days, taking total delivery time to around 35 days. While the longer route is likely to affect pricing due to increased logistics costs, product quality is expected to remain stable.
Weather forecasts predicting possible March–April rains are adding an element of uncertainty for the upcoming rabi crop. Excess rainfall during the harvest period could impact quality and tighten supplies of premium onions, potentially pushing prices sharply higher. In such a scenario, market intervention by the Indian government may be necessary to stabilise fluctuations.
Despite pressures from fluctuating arrivals, Bangladesh’s reduced participation and logistical challenges, Nashik’s onion trade continues to demonstrate resilience. Exporters are actively planning storage and shipment strategies for the upcoming Garwa crop, carefully navigating weather risks, market shifts and evolving trade dynamics as the spring export season approaches.
