The Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended the ban on onion imports up to August and possibly beyond depending on how events unfold, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Monday.
“We’re monitoring everything closely. As of the moment, we don’t need to import onions. But we will extend the ban on a monthly basis… for now until August,” said Tiu Laurel, in a statement.
After initially prohibiting onion imports in May, the DA extended the ban until July.
Tiu Laurel acknowledged a longer extension presents the unscrupulous traders opportunity to deny the market with stock and create an artificial shortage that would send onion prices soaring.
“If that happens, we will immediately allow importation to stabilize the price,” he said.
The Bureau of Plant Industry said domestic supply of white onions is enough to cover demand up to around October while bumper harvest of red onion should be enough to meet demand through the initial months of 2025.
The monthly consumption of white onion is estimated at 4,000 metric tons while red onion is around 17,000 MT.
According to the DA, areas planted to onion this year increased by 40 percent, the bulk of which was produced in Central Luzon.
Red onions sell from P80 to P150 per kilo and white onions from P60 to P130 per kilo at the moment.
