Onion imports resume at Benapole Port after 2.5 yrs

Onion imports through Benapole land port resumed on Monday after a suspension of two and a half years. A shipment of 15 metric tonnes arrived from India around 8:00pm, marking the first import since March 2023.

According to Shyamal Kumar Nath, deputy assistant at the Plant Quarantine Centre, the consignment was cleared after a quality inspection. Customs officials expedited the release following instructions from port authorities.

The consignment was imported by SM Well Traders of Bagerhat and exported by India’s National Trading Corporation. Customs sources reported that the onions were imported at Tk 37,429 per metric tonne. In local markets, the imported onions are expected to retail at Tk 58–60 per kilogram, depending on quality.

Assistant Commissioner of the port, Rajon Hossain, confirmed that all formalities were completed swiftly to facilitate the import.

The government had suspended onion imports in 2023 to protect domestic producers. However, following a recent surge in local prices, imports have been reinstated to stabilize the market.