Mumbai. Lentil prices have been trending downward during the current week. Weak demand in both retail and wholesale markets has put pressure on lentil prices. Traders are holding back purchases due to a lack of demand, leading to a sluggish market environment. Data shows that lentil imports into the country have also declined significantly this year. Total lentil imports this year were only 1.76 lakh tonnes, a decrease of 1.05 lakh tonnes compared to the previous year. Despite this significant decline in imports, lentil prices have not seen any significant fluctuations. Experts say that the market remains balanced due to improved domestic production, adequate stocks, and stable international supplies. Unless there is a significant surge in domestic demand or disruption in global supply, any significant movement in lentil prices is unlikely. Due to increased selling pressure from importers and weakening buying, imported lentil prices declined by Rs 50/75 per quintal during the current week, and at the end of the week, the prices were Rs 5900 for Mundra, Rs 5975 for Hazira, Rs 6150 for container Canada and Rs 6200 for Australia. Similarly, Kolkata lentil prices also declined by Rs 100 per quintal this week, and the prices remained at Rs 6150 per quintal for Australia at the end of the week.

Due to subdued demand from stockists and dal millers, the prices of small lentils in Delhi declined by Rs 100 and Desi Badi by Rs 50 per quintal. With this decline, the prices of small quota in Delhi declined by Rs 8350/8400, Bundi by Rs 8600/8650, Uttar Pradesh by Rs 8700/8750 and Desi Badi by Rs 6700 per quintal at the end of the week.

Due to increased selling pressure and slow buying, the prices of lentils in Madhya Pradesh declined by Rs 100/200 per quintal this week and with this decline, the weekend prices remained at Ashoknagar Rs 6150, Bina Rs 6000/6500, Ganjbasoda Rs 6100/6400, Sagar Rs 6000/6300, Damoh Rs 6150/6500, Indore Rs 6050/6100, Kareli Rs 5501/6600 and Katni Rs 6750 per quintal.

Due to weak buying, small lentil prices in Uttar Pradesh declined by ₹100 and large lentil prices declined by ₹50/100 per quintal this week. With this decline, prices at the weekend were Rs. 8800/8850 for small lentils in Bareilly, Rs. 6700 for large lentils in Lalitpur, Rs. 6200/6300 for large lentils, Rs. 8100/8200 for small lentils, and Rs. 5700/6100 per quintal in Orai.

Due to the widespread decline and weakening demand, Bihar lentil prices declined by ₹100 per quintal this week, with prices at the weekend being Rs. 7400 for Barh, Rs. 7300 for Khusrupur, and Rs. 73400 for Mokama. Similarly, Raipur lentil prices also declined by ₹50 per quintal this week, reaching Rs. 6300 per quintal at the weekend.

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