Mumbai: During the current week, the lentil market continued to face selling pressure, while demand remained sluggish. Due to weak demand, lentil prices showed a downward trend, and the market remained under pressure throughout the week. Weak off-take of lentils resulted in limited purchases by dal millers, due to which the market did not receive the expected support. Demand at the consumer level remains lower than normal, while stockists are also maintaining a cautious approach. In addition, increased availability of imported lentils at the ports has led to continuous selling pressure from importers. Due to increased arrivals, the supply in the domestic market remains easy, leading to further weakness in lentil prices.

Lentil sowing is progressing at a normal pace, but despite the government's increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and purchase guarantee, the expected increase in the sowing area has not materialized. The continuous availability of cheaper imported lentils has kept farmers' interest limited. According to official figures, the lentil production area in the current Rabi season was 15.76 lakh hectares till December 19, 2025, which is 8,000 hectares less than the same period last year. Sowing is almost complete in the major producing states, while in the Bundelkhand region, farmers are showing more interest in other Rabi crops. Low import duties and soft global prices are also affecting the lentil acreage.

Increased availability of imported lentils at the ports increased the selling pressure from importers, resulting in a decline of Rs. 50-100 per quintal in the prices of imported lentils during the current week. At the end of the week, the prices were Rs. 5500 per quintal at Mundra, Rs. 5600 at Hazira, and Rs. 5800 for Canadian and Rs. 5850 for Australian lentils in containers. Similarly, lentil prices in Kolkata also registered a decline of Rs. 50-100 per quintal this week, with prices settling at Rs. 5900 per quintal for Australian lentils and Rs. 5750 per quintal for Canadian lentils at the end of the week.

Due to increased selling by stockists, Delhi witnessed a decline of Rs. 100 per quintal in large lentils and Rs. 200 per quintal in small lentils during the current week. Prices at the end of the week were Rs. 7175 per quintal for small Kota, Rs. 8400 per quintal for Bundi, Rs. 8500 per quintal for Uttar Pradesh, and Rs. 6550 per quintal for large domestic lentils.

Due to sluggish demand, lentil prices in Madhya Pradesh registered a decline of Rs. 50-100 per quintal this week. At the end of the week, prices were Rs. 6000-6150 per quintal in Ashoknagar, Rs. 5800-6200 per quintal in Bina, Rs. 5600-6000 per quintal in Ganj Basoda, Rs. 5600-6000 per quintal in Sagar, Rs. 5800-6250 per quintal in Damoh, Rs. 5850 per quintal in Indore, Rs. 5000-6111 per quintal in Kareli, and Rs. 6400-6450 per quintal in Katni.

Due to subdued buying, lentil prices in Uttar Pradesh declined by Rs. 100 per quintal for small lentils and Rs. 50 per quintal for large lentils during the current week. At the end of the week, prices were Rs. 9500 per quintal for small Bareilly, Rs. 6600 per quintal for large Bareilly, Rs. 5700-5900 per quintal for large Lalitpur, Rs. 7000-7500 per quintal for small Lalitpur, and Rs. 5200-5800 per quintal in Orai.

Due to the overall decline and subdued buying, lentil prices in Bihar witnessed a decline of Rs. 100 per quintal this week. At the end of the week, prices were Rs. 6700 per quintal in Barh, Rs. 6600 per quintal in Khusrupur, and Rs. 6700 per quintal in Mokama. Similarly, Raipur lentil prices also saw a decline of 200 rupees per quintal this week, and the price settled at 6000 rupees per quintal by the end of the week.

Due to the decline in lentil prices and sluggish demand, the price of lentil dal also decreased by 100 rupees per quintal during the current week, and by the end of the week, the prices were as follows: Indore 7050/7200 rupees, Barh 7700/8000 rupees, Khusrupur 7600/7900 rupees, Mokama 7700/8000 rupees, Chandausi 9500/10500 rupees, and Hyderabad 7550 rupees per quintal.