Philippines halts onion imports amid glut after 2023 dearth

(Jan 19): The Philippines has temporarily suspended onion imports to prevent further depressing domestic prices amid a supply glut, in contrast to last year’s shortage that made the cooking staple costlier than meat. Onion imports will be halted until May, but the suspension may be extended through July if domestic supply “remains sufficient to meet local demand,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in a statement on Friday. “In principle, I agree with no onion importation until July. But that is on condition that if there is a sudden supply shortfall, we will have to import earlier,” he said. The Southeast Asian nation is not a huge onion importer, but a supply shortfall in January last year prompted it to buy overseas as prices of the commodity surged to about three times the price of chicken and around 25% costlier than beef at one point. Laurel said, however, that the country’s onion output remains at risk from El Nino even as current supply is abundant. “Warmer ...