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Indian Onions & Shallots

Indian red, pink and white onions — Lasalgaon, Nashik and Bagalkot regions. Premium Indian onions (red, pink, white) and shallots from Lasalgaon, Nashik and Bagalkot. Multiple size grades 25–70mm+. Year-round supply via rabi and kharif harvests.

Red Onion · Pink, White & ShallotsYear-RoundHS 07031010
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Indian Onions & Shallots
The category

Why Indian onions & shallots for export

India is the world's second-largest onion producer and the single largest exporter. Maharashtra alone supplies over 35% of national output, with the Lasalgaon wholesale market in Nashik district setting the global benchmark price for red onion most days of the year.

Indian onions ship in three primary colour grades — red (deep purple-red Nashik type, the most exported), pink (lighter colour, milder taste), and white (creamy white, sweeter, often Bangalore or Pune varieties). Shallots are exported separately for specialty markets in Southeast Asia and Europe.

ZoeM aggregates from cooperative grower networks in Lasalgaon, Nashik and Bagalkot. Our packing facilities grade by size (25/35/40/50/55/65/70mm+ diameter), inspect for sprouting and rot, and pack into mesh bags or PP bags sized 5/10/25/50 kg per buyer requirements.

Variety guide

Compare varieties & grades

We supply the variety and grade most appropriate to your target market and end use. Below is a side-by-side comparison.

Primary export

Red Onion (Nashik Type)

Deep purple-red colour, pungent, long shelf life. India's flagship export onion. Lasalgaon and Nashik districts dominate supply.

  • Colour Deep purple to red
  • Pungency High
  • Size grades 25/35/40/50/55/65/70mm+
  • Shelf life 60–90 days ambient (rabi crop better)
  • Top markets UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Specialty

Pink, White & Shallots

Pink onions for milder cuisine; white onions for Western markets; shallots for Southeast Asian specialty.

  • Pink colour Light pink-red, milder pungency
  • White colour Creamy white, sweeter taste
  • Shallots 20–30mm, mild, premium
  • Top markets Pink/white: Europe, UK · Shallots: SEA, Europe
Origin

Where ZoeM sources from

Primary regions: Maharashtra · Karnataka. Full sourcing footprint: Maharashtra (Lasalgaon, Nashik, Pune), Karnataka (Bagalkot, Bijapur), Gujarat.

Season: Year-round supply via rabi (Oct–Mar) and kharif (May–Sep) harvests with overlapping windows.

We work with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and direct grower networks in each region. Pre-shipment grading and quality control happens at FSSAI-licensed packhouses and processing facilities close to the source farms, minimising post-harvest delay.

Specifications

Trade specifications

Standard export specifications. Custom grading available on confirmed orders.

HS Code07031010 (Fresh Onion) / 07031020 (Shallot)
Botanical NameAllium cepa L.
Origin StatesMaharashtra (primary), Karnataka, Gujarat
Varieties / ColoursRed (primary), Pink, White, Shallot
Size Grades25 / 35 / 40 / 50 / 55 / 65 / 70mm+ diameter
PungencyHigh (red) · Moderate (pink) · Low-moderate (white)
PackagingMesh bags 5/10/25/50 kg; PP bags; jumbo bags for bulk
Container loadingApprox. 25–28 MT per 40' container (ambient, ventilated)
TemperatureAmbient ventilated (no refrigeration needed for rabi crop)
Shelf life60–90 days from packing (rabi); 30–45 days (kharif)
Shipping portsJNPT, Chennai, Mundra
Quality assurance

Certifications & quality control

Every shipment is certified, lab-tested, and traceable to its source. This is non-negotiable for our buyers and forms the spine of our supplier relationships.

APEDAAgricultural & Processed Food Export Authority — Government of India
FSSAIFood Safety & Standards Authority of India license
GAPGood Agricultural Practices — farm-level certification
MSME / UdyamIndian Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
IECImporter-Exporter Code — DGFT
NABL Lab TestingPre-shipment testing at NABL-accredited Indian labs

Pre-shipment lab testing — every shipment ships with a NABL-accredited lab report covering relevant quality and safety parameters for the product type (moisture, residues, microbiological, density, colour, etc.). The report travels with the shipment documentation.

Phytosanitary & fumigation — we arrange Indian Plant Quarantine Department phytosanitary certificates and any required pre-shipment fumigation per the importing country’s regulations.

Traceability — we record source farm, packhouse, processing date and container number for every shipment.

Buyer questions

Frequently asked questions

Which onion colour do you primarily export?
Red onion (Nashik type) is our primary export — over 80% of volume. Pink, white and shallots are available on confirmed orders for specialty markets.
What size grades are available?
25, 35, 40, 50, 55, 65, 70mm+ diameter. Standard export bag holds a single grade. Mixed-grade options possible on bulk orders.
Can you ship year-round?
Yes. India has two cropping cycles — rabi (Oct–Mar harvest, better shelf life) and kharif (May–Sep harvest, shorter shelf life). Supply is continuous.
Do onions need refrigerated containers?
No. Indian onions ship in ambient ventilated containers. Pre-cooling not required. We load 25–28 MT per 40' container.
What is the shelf life?
60–90 days from packing for rabi crop; 30–45 days for kharif. Rabi crop is preferred for longer-transit destinations.
What packaging do you offer?
Mesh bags (5, 10, 25, 50 kg) for standard retail/wholesale; PP bags; jumbo bags for bulk. Branded packaging available on confirmed orders.
What payment terms?
Standard 30% T/T advance + 70% against B/L, or 100% LC at sight from a first-class bank.
What certifications?
APEDA registered, FSSAI licensed, MSME registered. Pre-shipment lab testing available on request.