Private entities get approval to export onions

NEW DELHI: The government allowed private entities to export onions as its wholesale price substantially reduced on improved supplies. Till now only the state-owed agencies like STC, MMTC and PEC were allowed to ship onions.

"Export of onions has been made free," Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification on Wednesday. The move comes within a week of the government removing the minimum export price (MEP) on onions to boost exports.

Private entities are allowed to export all varieties of the commodity, including Bangalore Rose and Krishnapuram varieties, DGFT said.

During the April-January period of 2013-14, onion exports have declined by 28% to 11.08 lakh tonnes.