After last month’s sharp rise in tomato prices, consumers are now facing another price shock as onion prices have surged to Rs220 per kilogram in major urban centres, up from Rs110–120 per kg within days due to supply shortages.
Market sources said tomato prices have fallen to Rs200 per kg from record highs of Rs600–700, but onion prices are expected to remain elevated amid a demand-supply gap. As prices of key kitchen staples rise, consumers are restricting purchases to daily needs.
According to wholesale vegetable sellers, limited supplies from Sindh’s new crop will enter the markets by the third week of November. Until then, prices are likely to stay high.
They added that small quantities of onions are arriving from Iran, but high prices there and clearance delays at the border have restricted imports. Supplies from Afghanistan remain suspended for the second consecutive week due to the closure of Pak-Afghan trade routes following border clashes.
Traders reported similar price hikes in Punjab, where a 105-kg onion bag now sells for Rs23,000, with Sindh’s crop also moving northward.
According to the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending October 23, onion prices across major cities ranged from Rs65–160 per kg, up from Rs55–140 earlier in the month.Â
The Economic Survey for FY2025 shows national onion production rising 16% year-on-year to 2.67 million tonnes, but logistical disruptions and cross-border trade suspensions continue to pressure supplies.
