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Informist, Tuesday, Jun. 9, 2026

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Prices of wheat showed mixed trends, while prices of maize and rice were steady in key spot markets across the country, traders said. Wheat prices in Kota, Rajasthan, fell due to higher arrivals and muted demand, they said. Maize prices are expected to rise in the near term due to hope of a rise in demand from the ethanol sector, while rice prices could remain unchanged amid low market activity, they said.

 

WHEAT prices in Kota fell by INR 10 per 100 kilograms to INR 2,300-INR 2,325 per 100 kg Tuesday, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Arrivals rose by 10,000 bags to 25,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg). Prices fell amid a rise in arrivals and sluggish demand, he said. "The market is receiving more of wheat transported from further regions, which is priced lower than the local wheat, so prices have fallen accordingly," he said. Prices would have been supported if demand had also risen in pace with the higher arrivals, but with ample supply everywhere, millers and traders are only making purchases to fulfil immediate demands, he said.

 

Prices of wheat in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were steady at INR 2,570 per 100 kg, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader. Prices were unchanged amid steady demand, he said. Prices are likely to remain largely steady in the near term, with comfortable supplies of wheat by both buyers and the government, he said. "Prices are likely to see a significant change only once the government begins the open-market sales scheme," he said.

 

Under the open market sales scheme, the government fixes the prices of rice and wheat and sells the grains to bulk buyers such as states and private millers, through electronic auctions. The government's weekly e-auctions of rice and wheat are meant to cool retail prices nationwide. Open-market sales of wheat are likely to begin in July or August this year, Kochar said.

 

Prices of wheat at the Vashi market in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, were steady at INR 2,700 per 100 kg, said Devendra Vora, a wholesale trader. Prices were supported by government procurement amid low market activity, he said. 

 

The price of MAIZE in Indore was unchanged at INR 2,175 per 100 kg, Kochar said. Prices were unchanged as demand was on par with the supply of maize, he said. In the near term, Kochar expected prices to rise gradually as demand from the ethanol sector is expected to increase amid the government's push for higher ethanol blending. Maize, along with other crops such as sugarcane and rice, is one of the main feedstocks for ethanol.

 

India's ethanol demand could surge nearly 117% to 29.63 billion litres by 2039-40 (Apr-Mar), if flex-fuel vehicle penetration scales to an ambitious 50% during the five years starting FY35, InCred Equities said. Last week, India rolled out a flex-fuel ecosystem – with stations dispensing E85, or 85% ethanol blended petrol, and vehicles that can run on ethanol blends ranging from E20 to E100.

 

Prices of maize in Davanagere, 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 9,400-INR 9,500 per 100 kg and INR 8,200-INR 8,300 per 100 kg, respectively, he said. Prices of the 1121 variety of basmati rice were also steady at INR 10,000–INR 10,200 per 100 kg, he said. Prices were unchanged amid low market activity, as many traders were only buying rice as needed, he said. The market is monitoring the progress of the monsoon, as forecasts of below normal showers could impact the total acreage and production of both basmati and non-basmati rice. Rice is a highly water-intensive crop.  End

 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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