New Delhi: Gram prices in the domestic market trended upwards this week, driven by subdued selling pressure and sustained demand. The market is gaining strength as the availability of gram remains limited relative to rising demand. Arrivals in producing markets remain restricted, preventing adequate supply in the domestic market. Additionally, market sentiment has received a boost from NAFED’s high-rate bidding for gram. On the other hand, the landed cost of imported gram is high, resulting in significant price disparity; this high cost hampers the competitiveness of imported gram, thereby benefiting the demand and prices of domestic gram. Overall, a bullish trend prevails in the gram market due to limited domestic availability, weak selling, improved demand, and high import costs. Market arrivals and NAFED’s procurement and sales activities in the coming days will be crucial in determining the market's direction. Sustained buying by pulse millers led to a rise of ₹75 per quintal in Delhi gram prices this week, bringing rates to ₹6,525–₹6,550 per quintal for the Madhya Pradesh variety and ₹6,600–₹6,625 per quintal for the Rajasthan variety.

The market for imported gram saw an upward trend this week due to reduced selling by importers and increased buying interest. Demand emerging at lower price levels pushed the rates of imported gram up by ₹50 per quintal. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹6,400 per quintal for Tanzanian gram at Mumbai port, ₹6,600 per quintal for Australian gram at Nhava Sheva port, and ₹6,550 per quintal for imported gram at Mundra port.

Due to subdued selling pressure and limited buying activity, gram prices in Rajasthan rose by ₹100–200 per quintal this week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹5,400–6,050 in Jodhpur, ₹6,600 in Jaipur, ₹6,000–6,200 in Bikaner, ₹6,100–6,300 in Kishangarh, and ₹5,700–6,211 in Kota per quintal.

With selling by stockists slowing down and demand from pulse millers increasing, gram prices in Maharashtra recorded a rise of ₹100–200 per quintal during the week. By the weekend, prices reached ₹6,300–6,900 in Solapur, ₹6,350–6,450 in Latur, ₹6,850 in Akola, ₹6,825–6,850 in Nagpur, and ₹6,400–6,600 in Ahmednagar per quintal.

Sustained buying activity led to an increase of ₹100–200 per quintal in gram prices in Madhya Pradesh this week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹6,000–6,400 in Ashoknagar, ₹5,800–6,400 in Ganjbasoda, ₹6,000–6,300 in Sagar, ₹6,550–6,600 in Katni, and ₹6,650–6,800 in Indore per quintal.

Supported by a broad-based uptrend and increased buying, gram prices in Kanpur rose by ₹125 per quintal this week, reaching ₹6,750–6,775 per quintal by the weekend. Similarly, gram prices in Raipur saw an increase of ₹100 per quintal, settling at ₹6,600–6,800 per quintal by the weekend.

Driven by sustained demand, Chana Dal prices rose by ₹100–200 per quintal during the week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹7,700–8,000 in Delhi, ₹7,900–8,000 in Bhatapara, ₹7,850 in Katni, ₹7,800–7,900 in Gulbarga, ₹8,000–8,500 in Jalgaon, ₹7,550 in Jaipur, and ₹7,600–7,700 in Kanpur per quintal.