Onion Prices Jump 59% Nationwide, Kanda Express Rushes Buffer Stocks To Major Cities

All-India average retail onion prices surged 59 percent year-on-year to Rs 43.53 per kilogram on August 24, 2025, from Rs 27.37 a year earlier, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. Wholesale prices increased an even more dramatic 68 percent to Rs 35.58 per kilogram, compared with Rs 21.23 during the same period last year.

Onions in major cities are now priced significantly higher than a year ago. Retailers in Chennai are selling them for Rs 60 per kilogram, up from Rs 33, while Delhi retailers are charging Rs 53 per kilogram, up from Rs 35. Kolkata prices have also risen to Rs 55 per kilogram, from Rs 53 last year.

The government is transporting bulk onion stocks through dedicated Kanda Express railway rakes from Nashik to major consumption centers, with the first deliveries expected to reach their destinations by Wednesday. The onions will be sold at Rs 35 per kilogram by the National Agriculture Fertilizer Export Development Corporation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation, depending on market needs.

The government holds 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions in its buffer stock, sufficient to meet domestic demand. The reserve was procured through the Price Stabilisation Fund and is released gradually when seasonal shortages or sharp price increases disrupt the market. India is expected to produce 307.37 lakh tonnes of onions in the 2025-26 season, unchanged from the previous year.