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Informist, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Prices of wheat and rice were steady, while prices of maize fell in key spot markets across the country, traders said. Prices of maize fell as arrivals of the new rabi crop began amid sluggish demand, they said. Wheat prices were unchanged as demand for the staple grain was on par with its supply, they said. Prices of rice were steady amid stable demand, they said.

 

WHEAT prices in Kota, Rajasthan, were steady at INR 2,380-INR 2,420 per 100 kg, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Arrivals rose by 1,000 bags to 4,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said. Prices of wheat in Vashi market in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, were steady at INR 2,700 per 100 kg, said Devendra Vora, a wholesale trader. Prices of wheat in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were steady at INR 2,620 per 100 kg, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader.

 

Prices are steady as low demand for the grain is on par with its supply, Vora said. Arrivals of the new rabi crop have begun in small quantities, which are being purchased by millers and traders. Prices are likely to fall once new arrivals begin in full swing, but a steep fall is unlikely, he said. "Buyers will wait for a fall in prices before buying the new arrivals. They will also assess the quality of arrivals from all states before setting the benchmark for rates based on the best quality," he said.

 

The quality of current arrivals is good, but there are concerns regarding the quality of the crop in the northern belt states such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Vora said. Both states have received rainfall this week, which has impacted the standing crop, he said. Arrivals of the wheat from these states could be delayed by 10–15 days as farmers are likely to try drying out the crop as much as possible before bringing it to the market, he said. High moisture content in the grain typically lowers its quality.

 

The price of MAIZE in Indore fell by INR 15 from Wednesday to INR 1,700 per 100 kg, Kochar said. Prices fell as arrivals of the new crop began in Madhya Pradesh, he said. A further fall in prices is likely once arrivals begin in full swing, he said.

 

Prices of maize in Davangere, Karnataka, fell by INR 100 per 100 kg from the previous day to INR 1,600–INR 1,800 per 100 kg, said Shiva Kumar, a local trader. Arrivals in the market fell by 1,500 bags to 3,500 bags (1 bag = 60 kg), he said. "Prices are weighed down by low demand as everyone is waiting for the new crop to arrive, so that they can purchase once prices fall more," he said.

 

Prices of the main varieties of RICE remained unchanged in Vashi. The 1401 and 1121 varieties of basmati rice were steady at INR 8,000-INR 8,200 per 100 kg and INR 8,400-INR 8,800 per 100 kg, respectively, due to stable demand, he said. "Demand for basmati rice from everywhere (other countries) is stable and good, so prices are steady," he said. Currently, Indian basmati rice is not facing competition from any other rice-exporting countries, he said. "Pakistan had taken advantage of the rise in Indian basmati rice prices last year and dumped their rice in all countries, so now they have nothing to export, so everyone is buying from us," he said.

 

Prices of sona masoori rice, a premium non-basmati variety, were also steady at INR 5,600-INR 5,800 per 100 kg at Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, said Ravi Shankar, a local trader. Prices are likely to remain unchanged in the near term due to seasonally low demand, he said.  End

 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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