According to EastFruit experts, Central Asian fresh produce traders, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that onion exports from Tajikistan are possible from May 1, 2023. However, so far we have not been able to find any official confirmation of this.
As we reported, already in mid-April 2023, as new crop onions entered the market, farmers in Tajikistan experienced problems with sales of 2022 crop onions, the stocks of which were still significant. As a result, onion prices began to decline rapidly, although they remained at a relatively high level for this period of the year. If the ban was indeed lifted, this would help stabilize fresh onion prices in Tajikistan.
It is reported that one of the first customers for onions from Tajikistan is Kazakhstan, where President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon paid an official visit in early May. It is unknown if these events are related.
According to preliminary data, there is already an order for 60 railcars of Tajik early onions, which is equivalent to a rather significant volume of more than 3.5 thousand tons of onions.
Recall that Tajikistan introduced a ban on onion exports and a number of other vegetables at the end of January 2023. Interestingly, this was already the second ban on onion exports in a season introduced by this country.
At the moment, onion prices for the 2022 crop in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are at approximately the same level. But the prices for onions of a new crop in Tajikistan are now lower than in Uzbekistan. In addition, they are lower than last year’s onion prices.
However, if we take into account transportation costs, then at the moment, Uzbek new crop onions remain competitive in price.
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