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Informist, Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Prices of wheat saw a mixed trend, while prices of rice were unchanged in key spot markets across the country, traders said. In Kota, Rajasthan, new wheat prices were up due to a rise in stockist purchases, while prices of old wheat fell on low demand, they said. Prices of basmati rice remained steady as the market is monitoring the ongoing hostilities in West Asia, traders said. Maize prices were unavailable as some markets were shut for various festivals, they said.

 

Prices of the new WHEAT crop in Kota rose by INR 25 per 100 kg from Thursday to INR 2,250-INR 2,475 per 100 kilograms, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Prices of old wheat stocks fell by INR 25 per 100 kg to INR 2,150-INR 2,325 per 100 kg, he said. Arrivals of the old crop rose by 500 bags to 3,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), while arrivals of the new crop fell by 10,000 bags to 35,000 bags, Mehta said.

 

Prices of the new wheat crop rose due to higher demand from some stockists, Mehta said. "Some stockists have begun purchases as they think prices are low enough right now, while most others are waiting for prices to fall further," he said. The market has also begun receiving good quality arrivals of the new crop, which is encouraging stockists to buy the grain, he said. 

 

Prices are expected to fall once arrivals increase in April, Mehta said. "During peak arrival season, arrivals are around 100,000–200,000 bags for at least a month," he said. On the other hand, prices of the old wheat stocks fell amid sluggish demand as buyers prefer new arrivals, he said.

 

Wheat prices in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, were steady at INR 2,700 per 100 kg, said wholesale trader Devendra Vora. Prices were unchanged amid low activity, as most market participants were away for various festivals. 

 

Prices of various varieties of RICE were steady in Vashi, Vora said. Prices of 1401 basmati rice were at INR 8,500–INR 8,700 per 100 kg, 1121 basmati rice at INR 9,400–INR 9,500 per 100 kg, and 1509 basmati rice at INR 8,500 per 100 kg. Prices of basmati rice have settled as most of the market has entered a "wait and watch stance" amid the ongoing military hostilities in West Asia, he said. During the initial days of the conflict, prices fell as exports to countries in West Asia, the top destinations for Indian basmati rice, came to a halt. "Most market participants have realised the war will not end anytime soon so everyone is just monitoring the situation," he said.

 

"Export demand for basmati rice is next to nothing right now because our biggest destinations are embroiled in the war," Mehta said, adding, "If the war continues for, let's say, another few months, a lot of basmati rice exporters will have to shut shop because their main business was with countries in West Asia."

 

Prices of wheat and MAIZE in Indore, Madhya Pradesh were unavailable as the market was shut for Chaitra Navratri, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader. Prices of maize in Davangere, Karnataka, were also unavailable as the market was shut for Ugadi and Id-Ul-Fitr, said Shiva Kumar, a local trader.  End
 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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