Onion prices continue to rule lower on lack of domestic and export demand.

“There was total lack of demand in the domestic market. There were also no enquiries for onion exports,” said Mr Madan Prakash, Director of Chennai-based Rajathi Group of companies that exports agricultural produce.

In Lasalgaon Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee yard in Maharashtra, the modal price or the rate at which most trades took place was Rs 815 a quintal. There has been some recovery in prices after onion slipped to Rs 750 on Wednesday. Prices at Pune were around Rs 750 a quintal and at Pimpalgaon, they were down to Rs 711.

Arrivals in the last three days at Lasalgaon have been close to 1,200 tonnes each. Similarly, they were heavy at other centres.

“Exporters are looking to lowering of the minimum export price of $475 a tonne by the Centre. But demand is unlikely even at a lower floor export price since we are not getting much enquiries,” said Mr Prakash.

The Empowered Group of Ministers was to have reviewed the export floor price on Thursday. But the meeting was put off to next week, probably after Diwali.

The Centre had banned onion on September 7 but revoked it after a fortnight following boycotting of trading in protest by farmers and exporter. However, it retained the export floor price and said it would be reviewed every fortnight.

Prices are seen under pressure as arrivals after Diwali are expected to be higher, said Mr Prakash.

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