Fresh Red Onion, Container Loads from India

We grade fresh red onion into 40–45 mm, 45–55 mm and 55 mm+ sizes. Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia typically take the 40–45 mm grade, Gulf markets and Malaysia’s big-onion trade usually take 45–55 mm, and 55 mm+ goes mainly to wholesale and catering buyers. Malaysia’s small red onion trade is a different product, met by Bangalore Rose.

A 40 ft ventilated container holds approximately 27–29 MT of onions in mesh bags. Our MOQ is one full container load.

India periodically applies export duties or minimum export prices on onion depending on domestic supply. We quote against the policy in force on the quotation date and keep buyers informed of changes that affect landed cost.

Fresh or chilled onion falls under HS subheading 0703.10, with the Indian ITC (HS) code 07031010. That subheading covers onions and shallots together, and many national tariffs split it further, so check your own eight- or ten-digit line before calculating duty.

In the months after the rabi harvest, roughly March to June, when fresh, well-cured onion is available in volume. Later in the year stored stock ages, sprouting risk rises and prices tend to firm, so buyers with flexibility do better contracting early.

Usually not. A ventilated dry container is standard on short routes such as the Gulf, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. For long transits or hot-season shipments a reefer at a controlled temperature can be worth the freight premium, and it is worth discussing the route before booking.

A phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a fumigation certificate where the destination requires one. Where a trade agreement covers your market, ask for a preferential certificate of origin, which can reduce your import duty.

A maximum percentage for sprouted bulbs, neck rot and soft bulbs, doubles and splits, and loose skin and soil, together with the size band and its tolerance. State who inspects, at which point, and what happens if a lot falls outside. Most onion disputes arise because nobody defined good in advance.

A small, pungent onion of about 20–35 mm with a deep rose-pink colour, grown in Karnataka. It is a distinct product from Nashik red onion, bought by markets that want small onion for cooking and pickling, including buyers in Malaysia and Singapore.