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Informist, Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

By Shreya Shetty

MUMBAI – Prices of wheat and maize showed a mixed trend Tuesday while prices of rice were unchanged in key spot markets across the country. Wheat prices rose in many markets amid a slowdown in arrivals, fears of lower yields, and increase in export quota, they said. Maize prices rose in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, as arrivals fell, they said. Rice prices were unchanged as the market is monitoring the developments in West Asia, they said.

WHEAT prices in Indore rose by INR 20 per 100 kilograms from Friday to INR 2,530 per 100 kg, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader. The market was shut on Monday for Akshaya Tritiya. Prices have risen amid a slowdown in arrivals as many farmers are away from the market, he said. "Monday and Tuesday this week are among the most auspicious days for weddings during the season, so many farmers are away for celebrations," he said.

Prices have also risen as the government has doubled the amount of wheat allowed for exports. Some traders and stockists believe demand for Indian wheat will increase in the medium term, prompting them to stock up on the grain now, Kochar said. Currently, demand for Indian wheat in the overseas markets is quite low as it is more expensive globally, he said. The government on Monday approved an additional export quota of 2.5 million tonnes. With this, a total of 5.0 million tonnes of wheat and 1.0 million tonnes of wheat products can be shipped out.

Prices are also supported by reports of lower yield as unseasonal rainfall during March and April resulted in crop damage and losses in many north Indian states, Kochar said. "Yield is lower by 15% this season," he said. Unfavourable weather has also delayed the harvest of the new rabi crop and increased the moisture level in grains to at least 22%, according to Rahul Chauhan, president of IGrain India, an agri-commodity research centre. "Usually stockists start purchasing the grain in bulk from the first or second week of April, but this time there is a delay, so prices will go up further in the near term," Chauhan said.

Prices of wheat in Kota, Rajasthan, rose by INR 30-INR 40 per 100 kg to INR 2,355-INR 2,410 per 100 kg, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Arrivals fell by 35,000 bags to 45,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said. Prices rose due to fall in arrivals as most farmers stayed away from markets due to the ongoing wedding season, he said. Arrivals also fell as many farmers are selling their crop to the government, he said. Though the government's procurement was off to a slow start in Rajasthan, it has picked up pace now as the government has relaxed the quality standards, making more farmers eligible to sell their crop to Food Corp. of India, he said.

Prices of wheat in Vashi in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, were also steady at INR 2,600 per 100 kg, said Devendra Vora, a local trader.

Prices of MAIZE in Indore rose by INR 25 per 100 kg from Friday to INR 1,925 per 100 kg, Kochar said. Prices rose amid a slowdown in arrivals as most farmers kept away from markets, he said. However, a steep rise in prices is unlikely as steady arrivals of the coarse grain are likely to resume next week. Amid sluggish demand for maize during summer, prices may remain range-bound in the near term, he said.

Prices of maize in Davangere, Karnataka, were steady at INR 1,750-INR 1,850 per 100 kg, said Shiva Kumar, a local trader. Arrivals were steady at 1,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said.

Prices of RICE varieties also remained steady in Vashi, Vora said. Prices of 1401 basmati rice were unchanged at INR 9,700-INR 9,800 per 100 kg, and of 1121 basmati rice at INR 10,000-INR 10,200 per 100 kg, he said. The price of 1509 basmati rice was steady at INR 8,500 per 100 kg, he said. The market is monitoring the ongoing developments in West Asia for more cues, he said. The US and Iran are expected to hold more peace talks on Tuesday, a day before the temporary ceasefire in West Asia ends. If military action in the region ceases, many exporters expect demand for Indian basmati rice to surge. Countries in West Asia are top destinations for Indian basmati rice.  End

Edited by Ashish Shirke

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