India Onion Price Trends Explained for Investors

Onion Prices Crash 50% in 2 Weeks after India’s Export Ban – What Does Volatile Onion Market Mean for Investors?

Analysis for Layman

The article delves into the recent decision by India to ban onion exports on December 7th, 2022, following the initial implementation of a minimum export price (MEP) in an effort to stabilize domestic onion prices. As a result of this move, wholesale onion prices at significant agricultural markets, such as Lasalgaon, have experienced a significant drop, plummeting from approximately 40 rupees/kg prior to the ban to the current range of 20-21 rupees/kg.

The export ban was primarily enacted to increase the availability of onions domestically, as temporary shortages and price spikes had emerged, likely due to weather-related harvesting issues. Nevertheless, this ban has sparked controversy, with onion farmer associations demanding its repeal. They argue that India should rely on free-market dynamics to determine the competitiveness of onion exports on a global scale.

For the time being, it is expected that onion prices will remain stable as the arrival of the autumn-sown onion crop gains momentum. However, the government’s unpredictable interference in trade has once again highlighted the volatility risks and inconsistent policy decisions that govern India’s onion commodity market.

Impact on Retail Investors

For retail investors, India’s export ban underscores the risks associated with investing in companies linked to domestically consumed agricultural commodities that frequently encounter disruptions in trade policies. Companies engaged in onion export, storage infrastructure, or downstream segments, such as dehydrated onions, may face challenges in adapting to sudden regulatory changes.

Stocks like CCL Products, Flex Foods, Jiya Eco Products, which have exposure to onion exports, may experience fluctuations in working capital cycles, inventory management, and margin pressure due to such abrupt shifts. Retail investors are advised to conduct a thorough analysis of financial stability, business diversification across products and geographies, and an assessment of management’s ability to navigate through commodity cycles before investing in such companies, rather than relying on predictive fundamentals or government policy forecasts.

Even leading fertilizer companies with agricultural exposure, such as Coromandel International and Chambal Fertilizers, may experience secondary sales volatility due to changes in farmer income flows in each cropping cycle. Retail investors should also carefully analyze these factors.

Impact on Industries

India’s onion export ban and the subsequent domestic price crash have negative consequences for several sectors:

Onion Farmers:

By eliminating potential export income just before the peak arrival season, the ban has led to panic selling at low prices, eroding crop profitability after initially incurring high input costs.

Commodities Traders/Exporters:

Business operations have been disrupted by the immediate ban, with stranded export consignments. Market volatility has also complicated trading strategies and inventory management.

Cold Storage Providers:

There is potential for a reduction in stored onion volumes if price expectations limit farmer willingness to store produce for future lean-season supply.

However, the ban has modestly benefited certain industries:

• Food Companies Using Onion as an Ingredient: Lower input costs have improved the margin outlook.
• Hospitality Sector: This key consumable item has seen inflation ease.

Overall, such reactive and unpredictable trade policies create complexities for anything related to domestic agricultural commodities, necessitating financial hedge mechanisms.

Long Term Benefits & Negatives

Over a 5+ year horizon, the long-running cycle of reactive onion export bans when domestic prices spike offers limited benefits compared to the negatives:

• Discouraging production investments by eroding farmer income stability and confidence.
• Deterring global import partners wary of unpredictable supply reliability amid sudden policy shifts.
• Inhibiting the development of sophisticated commodity futures trading by allowing volatility from arbitrary government interventions.

However, improving long-term productivity through research partnerships focused on developing improved onion varieties resistant to weather shocks can limit price overreactions. Simultaneously, formalizing a transparent, rules-based trade policy framework applicable to onions and other agricultural exports will balance the interests of all stakeholders, rather than allowing reactive decisions that favor short-term consumer cost control.

Short Term Benefits & Negatives

In the immediate 1-2 year outlook, the onion export ban may provide modest relief on retail inflation but carries elevated risks of disruptive policy shifts:

• Positively, overflowing domestic supply from banned exports will aid consumer purchasing power and mitigate food inflation.
• However, such sudden trade directives disrupt entire industry value chains, including farming, storage, and exporting, making operations unviable when export avenues close abruptly.
• The resulting distrust deters upstream investments in production capacity and downstream export market development, driving decisions more by government price directives than competitive forces.

While export restrictions may suppress short-term food cost spikes, the longer-term downside for India, which seeks to advance an efficient, stable agricultural commodity ecosystem, outweighs the benefits by deterring sector advancements needed to meet future population needs.

Potential Impact of Onion Price Drop on Indian Companies:

Indian Companies Likely to Gain:

1. Retail Grocery Chains: Companies like Future Retail Ltd., Avenue Supermarts Ltd. (DMart), and Reliance Retail Ltd. could benefit from lower onion prices due to:

   • Increased Profit Margins: Lower procurement costs can be translated into higher profit margins on onion sales.
   • Boosted Consumer Demand: Lower prices could stimulate consumer demand for onions, leading to increased sales volume.

2. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs): Companies like Domino’s Pizza India Ltd., Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. (McDonald’s franchisee), and Yum! Restaurants India Pvt. Ltd. (KFC & Pizza Hut franchisee) might see benefits:

   • Reduced Ingredient Costs: Lower onion prices will reduce the cost of an essential ingredient used in various dishes, improving profitability.
   • Potentially Competitive Advantage: Menu price reductions due to lower ingredient costs could attract customers from competitors facing higher onion costs.

3. Consumers: The fall in onion prices is likely to be a welcome relief for consumers, particularly those in lower-income groups, as it will:

   • Reduce Food Expenses: Lower onion prices can contribute to overall grocery bill reduction, impacting household budgets positively.
   • Increase Affordability of Essential Ingredient: Affordable onions could lead to increased consumption and improved dietary diversity.

Indian Companies That Might Lose:

1. Onion Farmers: The immediate beneficiaries of the government’s move are consumers, but farmers might face temporary losses:

   • Lower Income from Sales: With prices halved, farmers might not get the desired returns on their harvest, potentially impacting their income and livelihood.
   • Storage Challenges: Increased onion arrival coinciding with falling prices might pressure farmers to sell quickly, potentially leading to storage losses.

2. Onion Exporters: Companies primarily engaged in onion exports will experience significant losses:

   • Loss of Export Revenue: The complete ban on exports eliminates their primary source of income, leading to potential revenue losses and operational disruptions.
   • Difficulty Shifting Focus: Adapting to domestic markets where prices are much lower might be challenging for export-oriented companies, impacting their profitability.

3. Cold Storage Providers: Companies offering cold storage facilities for onions might see reduced demand due to:

   • Decreased Need for Storage: Farmers selling readily due to falling prices might not require extensive storage, reducing demand for cold storage services.
   • Uncertainty in Export Ban Duration: The unknown duration of the export ban might discourage farmers from long-term storage, further impacting demand.

Global Companies:

The impact on global companies is likely minimal as the news primarily affects the domestic Indian market. However, some global restaurant chains with operations in India might benefit from lower onion prices, similar to Indian QSRs.

Market Sentiment:

The news of falling onion prices will likely be seen positively by consumers and retail chains but negatively by onion farmers and exporters. The overall market sentiment might be mixed, with a potential short-term boost for consumer-oriented companies and challenges for agricultural and export-focused businesses.

Remember, this analysis is based on the limited information provided. The final impact on specific companies may depend on various factors not covered here.

I hope this provides a clear and concise overview of the potential impact of the onion price drop on Indian companies. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Proper Citation: “Onion Prices Halve in Less than 2 Weeks after Export Ban.” Economic Times, 20 Dec.