Subheadline: Wholesale onion prices in Pune have risen to ₹42–₹50 a kilogram, while retail prices have reached ₹60–₹70, according to a market trader quoted by Loksatta.
Pune | September 9, 2026 — Onion prices in Pune have increased by ₹25 a kilogram over the past one-and-a-half months as delayed rainfall affected the planting of the new red-onion crop in Pune, Nashik and parts of Ahilyanagar districts. Consumers are expected to face higher prices for at least another one-and-a-half to two months, according to information reported from the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market Yard.
Wholesale onion prices in the Pune market were around ₹18–₹25 a kilogram about six weeks ago. They have now risen to ₹42–₹50 a kilogram, while retail prices have reached ₹60–₹70 a kilogram, onion trader Ram Narwade told Loksatta – Pune.
The delay is linked to the late planting of the new red-onion crop. Red onions are cultivated extensively in Nashik, Shirur, Khed and Ambegaon in Pune district, as well as in the Shrigonda and Parner areas of Ahilyanagar district. The delayed start of the new season has reduced the immediate availability expected from these production centres.
According to traders quoted in the report, the Pune market is currently receiving onions from Shirur, Khed, Manchar and Ambegaon in Pune district, along with Parner and Shrigonda. Onion cultivation in southern states has also reportedly been affected by inadequate rainfall, adding to concerns over near-term supply.
Traders said the new red-onion season could take about two months to begin fully. Until then, prices are expected to remain elevated. The reported increase comes after two years in which farmers received weak prices for onions. The current rise has therefore brought some relief to growers, even as households and retailers face higher procurement costs.
The price difference between the wholesale and retail markets has also widened the impact on consumers. With wholesale rates currently between ₹42 and ₹50 a kilogram, retail onions are being sold at ₹60–₹70 a kilogram in Pune. The reported rates and expected duration of the increase remain linked to the timing of the new crop and arrivals at the market yard.
