More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, May 26, 2026

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Prices of grains were unchanged in key spot markets across the country Tuesday, traders said. Wheat prices are expected to remain largely unchanged till the government begins the open-market sales scheme, after which market prices will take cues from the government's reserve price, they said. Maize prices are likely to rise in the near term due to hopes of a rise in demand from the ethanol sector, they said. Rice prices are likely to remain unchanged amid low market activity, they said.

 

The price of WHEAT in Indore was steady at INR 2,600 per 100 kilograms, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader. Prices are unchanged amid some demand for the grain, which is not substantial enough to push prices up, he said. Market activity has been largely down as the prevailing heatwave in the state is preventing many buyers from stepping out, he said. Temperatures in most parts of the state have remained above 40 degrees Celsius in the past week, with some districts recording mercury levels higher than 45 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department. Relief from hot weather in the state is likely next week, according to the weather department.

 

Even if participants return to the market, prices of wheat are likely to be unchanged, Kochar said. No major spike in demand is expected, and the market is awaiting the government's announcement of the commencement of the open-market sales scheme, he said. This year, the government is likely to begin open-market sales of wheat earlier as it is looking to offload its surplus stocks, he said. Any change in prices is expected to depend on the reserve prices the Centre fixes for the open-market sales, he said.

 

Prices of wheat in Kota, Rajasthan, were unchanged at INR 2,340-INR 2,360 per 100 kg, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Arrivals were steady at 20,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said.

The price of wheat in Vashi in Navi Mumbai was steady at INR 2,700 per 100 kg, said Devendra Vora, a wholesale trader. Though market activity remains largely low, prices are held steady by the government's ongoing procurement, he said.

 

The price of MAIZE in Indore fell by INR 20 per kg from Friday to INR 2,180 per 100 kg, Kochar said. Prices are unchanged amid stable demand, he said. Prices are likely to rise in the near term due to expectations of a rise in demand amid concerns about lower acreage in the upcoming kharif season, he said. Demand for maize for ethanol is likely to rise due to a push for higher ethanol blending by the government. 

 

Government ethanol blending targets absorbed nearly 20% of domestic maize production, which have tightened open-market supplies, Kedia Advisory said in a report. Maize officially surpassed sugarcane as India's largest ethanol feedstock during May 2026 industry reports, the brokerage said.

 

Prices of maize at Davanagere in Karnataka were steady at INR 1,800-INR 2,050 per 100 kg, said Shiva Kumar, a local trader. Arrivals were steady at 800 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said. 

 

Prices of RICE varieties were steady in Vashi, Vora said. Prices of the 1409 and 1509 varieties of basmati rice were steady at INR 9,100-INR 9,200 per 100 kg and INR 8,200-INR 8,300 per 100 kg, respectively, he said. Prices of 1121 basmati rice variety were also steady at INR 10,000-INR 10,200 per 100 kg, he said. Prices were unchanged amid low market activity, with both demand and supply of the grain low and equally matched, he said.  End

 

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.