Just a few days after Kazakhstan imposed a ban on the export of onions, Uzbekistan announced a temporary restriction on onion exports, too, EastFruit experts report.
“In order to reduce the price on the domestic market, meet the consumer demand and ensure food security in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a temporary restriction on the export of onions has been introduced for a period of 4 months, starting from January 1, 2023,” the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan said in its message.
Thus, the restriction on the exports of onions from Uzbekistan will be valid until the end of April 2023, unless a decision is made to lift the ban within the specified period.
We remind you that as a result of the loss of a significant part of the onion stocks in Uzbekistan during abnormally cold weather, there is a shortage of onions in the domestic market of the country, which led to a sharp rise in prices. Abnormally cold weather began on January 10, 2023. If we compare with the price levels as of January 6, 2023 – before the cold weather started, the average wholesale prices for onions in Uzbekistan increased by 60%: from 5 000 to 8 000 UZS/kg (from $0.44 to $0.71) from January 6 to January 20, 2023 (in 2 weeks). Onion has become the leader in terms of growth rates among the main types of vegetables over those two weeks.
Read also: Global fresh onion market review – are prices about to skyrocket?
As of January 20, 2023, the average price for onion in Uzbekistan was 4 times higher than on the same date last year and almost 5 times higher than on the same date in 2020-2021.
According to preliminary estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, from January 20 to April 30, 2023, the domestic demand for onions was supposed to be about 346 000 tonnes.
The Ministry said that, as of January 20, 2023, the confirmed stock of onions was 87 000 tonnes, and 232 000 tonnes in farms – a total of 319 000 tonnes. Thus, to cover the needs of the population in onions, another 26 500 tonnes of onions will be required.
Currently, negotiations with foreign industrial partners on the import of onions are underway, the Ministry of Agriculture of the country comments.
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