Chennai, Oct 26:
Onion prices have risen again at Chennai’s Koyambedu wholesale market, with premium-quality Nashik onions touching ₹60 per kg today. The increase comes ahead of Deepavali, raising concerns among consumers over household expenses.
Prices have fluctuated sharply in recent months. First-grade Nashik onions, which sold at ₹35 per kg on August 7, rose to ₹50 on August 23 and touched ₹60 on September 22 before declining to ₹46 on October 20.
Other varieties were sold at different rates at Koyambedu. Small Andhra onions cost ₹36 per kg and larger ones ₹42, while small Karnataka onions were priced at ₹38 and larger ones at ₹60. Small Nashik onions were available at ₹40 per kg.
Explaining the latest increase, wholesale trader Raghunath said arrivals from northern states had declined during Navaratri as farmers brought fewer onions to market. He said supplies could improve as traders clear existing stocks ahead of Deepavali. “Prices may ease slightly from Monday or Tuesday as arrivals increase,” he said.
Retail prices across Chennai have risen to ₹60–₹80 per kg. The Tamil Nadu government is also selling onions procured from Nashik at ₹35 per kg through urban ration shops, with a limit of one kg per ration card. Traders expect fresh arrivals to ease prices, though festival demand could push rates up again in the first week of November. Fresh harvesting after Deepavali is expected to improve supply further.