Onion imports through Hili land port in Dinajpur resumed after a four-day halt caused by a software glitch in Indian customs. The update, implemented at 4:45 PM, reduced the export duty on onions from 40% to 20%, following India’s removal of the minimum export price for onions. Onions began arriving at Hili land port at 5:30 PM after necessary import procedures were completed. Despite the reduced tariff, local traders noted that prices in Bangladesh remain high, with imported onions currently expected to cost between Tk 80 and Tk 85 per kilogram, while locally grown onions sell for Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kilogram. Indian onions are priced at Tk 90 to Tk 95 per kilogram, down from Tk 110. Last year, India set a minimum export price of $800 per tonne to limit exports, and a four-month export ban was announced on December 7, 2023, due to production disruptions, later extended indefinitely before being lifted on May 4, 2024, when a 40% export duty was imposed.
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