The cost of onions is on the rise in Chennai, with prices crossing ₹50 per kg in the wholesale market due to a dip in harvest in onion-growing states. The Koyambedu wholesale market, a major source of onion supply, received only 50% of its daily stock, leading to a widening gap between demand and supply. The retail market witnessed onion prices reaching ₹62 per kg.
Additionally, vegetables such as brinjal and bitter gourd have also become more expensive post-Cyclone, contributing to the overall increase in vegetable prices. Traders anticipate a further rise in onion prices, with stabilization expected only after the Pongal festival in mid-January.