Mumbai. During the current week, lentil prices have seen a rise, which is due to weakening of selling at reduced prices and increasing demand. Especially the weakness in the stock of small lentils and the support of strong demand is creating a trend of increase in prices. At present, the rising prices of lentils are getting support from continuously strong demand and limited stock. The new crop of lentils is being harvested rapidly in the Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces of Western Canada, but due to increasing arrivals in the markets, the business has started to slow down. Despite the increase in production, buyers have postponed buying and prices are expected to fall. The quality of lentils is generally good, but the quality of the crop may be affected by the rain in some areas. The price of lentils remains unstable in the markets of Saskatchewan, where number 2 quality green lentils are selling around 27 cents per pound and number 1 quality around 25 cents per pound. Analysts say that producers should try to sell their lentils quickly, because new crops are also about to arrive in Russia and Australia, which could increase pressure on prices in the global market.

Due to weakening of selling by importers and increase in buying, prices of imported lentils increased by Rs 50/100 per quintal during the current week and at the weekend the prices became Mundra Rs 6050/6075, Hazira Rs 6150, Container Canada Rs 6300 and Australia Rs 6250 per quintal. Similarly, prices of Kolkata lentils also improved by Rs 50 per quintal this week and at the weekend the price became Australia Rs 6400 per quintal.

Due to weak availability and strong demand, a sharp jump of 600 rupees was recorded in the prices of small lentils in Delhi and 125 rupees per quintal in Desi Badi and with this jump, the prices at the weekend reached Choti Kota 8150/8200 rupees, Bundi 8450/8500 rupees, Uttar Pradesh 8600/8650 rupees and Desi Badi 6825/6850 rupees per quintal.

Due to limited arrivals in producer markets and better buying, prices of lentils in Madhya Pradesh rose by Rs. 100/200 per quintal this week and over the weekend the prices became Ashoknagar Rs. 6300/6350, Bina Rs. 6400/6600, Ganjbasoda Rs. 5900/6700, Sagar Rs. 6000/6300, Damoh Rs. 6200/6600, Indore Rs. 6050/6100, Kareli Rs. 5725/6300 and Katni Rs. 6900 per quintal.

Due to strong demand, during this week, prices of small lentils in Uttar Pradesh rose by Rs. 150 and thick lentils by Rs. 100 per quintal. With this rise, the prices at the weekend became Bareilly small Rs. 8600/8700, thick Rs. 6800, Lalitpur thick Rs. 6200/6300, small Rs. 7800/8400 and Orai Rs. 5800/6200 per quintal.

Due to support of all round rise and increase in demand, prices of Bihar lentils rose by Rs. 100 per quintal this week and with this improvement, prices at the weekend became Barh Rs. 7250, Khusrupur Rs. 7150 and Mokama Rs. 7250 per quintal. Similarly, prices of Raipur lentils also rose by Rs. 50 per quintal this week and at the weekend, the price reached Rs. 6400 per quintal.

Due to improvement in demand, prices of Masoor Dal saw an improvement of Rs. 50/100 per quintal during this week and with this improvement, the weekend prices became Rs. 7500 in Indore, Rs. 8250/8550 in Barh, Rs. 8150/8450 in Khusrupur, Rs. 8250/8550 in Mokama, Rs. 9000/9500 in Chandausi and Rs. 8000 per quintal in Hyderabad.