A ‘rose’ by another name will still retail for up to Rs 400 a kilo
Sri Lanka will import mid-sized, rose’ onions from India as a temporary substitute for big onions, said Trade Ministry Secretary A.M.B. Attapattu. These onions are already available but are smaller and substandard in flavour in comparison to the big onions. They are sold at Rs. 350 per kilo at wholesale and Rs. 400 per kilo at retail.
However, shipments of big onions are due from Turkey, China, and the Netherlands as per discussions on Thursday, but they will take time to arrive, Mr. Attapattu said.
In the meantime, red onions imported from India are sold at Rs. 265 per kilo.
“Some consumers buy red onions over rose onions as it is cheaper and there isn’t much demand for rose onions,’’ said chairman and spokesman of the Importers’ Association, Nihal Seneviratne.
“We are awaiting shipments
from China, and we are expecting one vessel to arrive by the end of this month; however, there will
not be enough in time for the April New Year.’’
India stopped exports in
December. Then, Sri Lanka imported from Pakistan until last Thursday, when they stopped exporting as well due to domestic demand. Imports from China take about 40 days to reach Colombo, and we have to be vigilant about old crops, said Mr. Seneviratne.
However, there are stocks in some markets.
Traders are selling old stocks at higher prices due to export bans in India and Pakistan, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando claimed at a press conference on Thursday.
He also said that despite the imports, onions retailed for between Rs 375 and Rs 400 a kilo.
According to Central Bank data, the price of big onions fluctuated in certain markets, with prices in Pettah rising from Rs. 387 per kilo last Thursday to Rs. 663 per kilo on Monday and then to Rs. 503 per kilo this past Thursday.