Mumbai. Lentil prices remained on a downward trend during the current week. Lack of customer support in retail and wholesale markets has increased the pressure on lentil prices. Due to low interest of buyers and sluggish consumer demand, trading activities remained limited, due to which lentil prices softened. Availability of lentils is also increasing continuously at the international level. The arrival of new crop has increased in major producing countries like Canada, America and Russia. The production of all varieties of lentils in Canada is likely to be higher than last year. Lentil prices remained stable in the markets of Western Canada during the current week. Despite better production, there is no selling pressure, while buyers are gradually becoming active. Thick green lentils are trading around 24 cents, red lentils 21-22 cents and small green lentils 20 cents per pound. The quality of grains was affected by the recent unseasonal rains, due to which the price difference has increased in different varieties. Due to the limited availability of good quality lentils, there is no possibility of a major fall in its prices. Competition may intensify due to the arrival of new lentils from Australia next month.

Due to increased selling pressure from importers and weak buying, prices of imported lentils have fallen by Rs. 75/100 per quintal during the current week and at the end of the week the prices remained at Mundra Rs. 5925/5950, Hazira Rs. 6050, Container Canada Rs. 6200 and Australia Rs. 6250 per quintal. Similarly, prices of Kolkata lentils also fell by Rs. 75 per quintal this week and at the end of the week the prices remained at Australia Rs. 6275 per quintal.

Due to sluggish demand from stockists and dal millers, prices of small lentils in Delhi fell by Rs. 150 and desi badi by Rs. 50 per quintal. With this fall, the prices at the weekend remained at small quota Rs. 8250/8300, Bundi Rs. 8600/8650, Uttar Pradesh Rs. 8700/8750 and desi badi Rs. 6750 per quintal.

Due to limited buying, prices of Madhya Pradesh lentil declined by Rs 50/100 per quintal this week and at the weekend the prices remained at Ashoknagar Rs 6200/6250, Bina Rs 6200/6400, Ganjbasoda Rs 6100/6600, Sagar Rs 6000/6300, Damoh Rs 6150/6500, Indore Rs 6050/6100, Kareli Rs 3500/6650 and Katni Rs 6750 per quintal. Uttar Pradesh

Due to weak buying, prices of small lentils in Uttar Pradesh declined by Rs. 200 and thick lentils by Rs. 100 per quintal during this week and with this decline, the prices remained Bareilly small Rs. 8800, thick Rs. 6750, Lalitpur thick Rs. 6000/6200, small Rs. 800/8400 and Orai Rs. 5600/6300 per quintal.

Due to the impact of all-round decline and weak demand, prices of Bihar lentils declined by Rs. 150 per quintal this week and with this decline, prices remained Barh Rs. 7350, Khusrupur Rs. 7250 and Mokama Rs. 7350 per quintal during the weekend. Similarly, prices of Raipur lentils also declined by Rs. 50 per quintal this week and remained at Rs. 6350 per quintal at the weekend.

Due to sluggish demand, prices of Masoor Dal declined by Rs. 100/150 per quintal during the current week and with this decline, the weekend prices remained at Indore Rs. 7400, Barh Rs. 8250/8550, Khusrupur Rs. 8150/8450, Mokama Rs. 8250/8550, Chandausi Rs. 9000/10000 and Hyderabad Rs. 7900 per quintal.