New Delhi. Harvesting and preparation of the new Kharif peanut crop has begun in Gujarat and other major producing states, and the flow of supplies is expected to increase rapidly in the coming days.

Peanut production is expected to increase due to improved crop conditions in both top producing states, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Crop conditions in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are reported to be satisfactory, but floods, rains, and waterlogging in Maharashtra are expected to cause some damage to the peanut crop.

According to available data, during the week of October 4-10, daily peanut arrivals in Rajkot, Gujarat, ranged from 15,000 to 30,000 bags, but due to lack of corresponding trading, prices fell by ₹500 to ₹5,000/₹6,000 per quintal. On October 4, 17,000 bags of peanuts arrived in Gondal.

During the week under review, peanut prices rose by ₹100 each in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Solapur, Maharashtra, to ₹5,300 and ₹6,600 per quintal, respectively. Peanut arrivals at Jhansi Mandi in Uttar Pradesh increased from 5,000 bags to 13,500 bags, but prices remained unchanged at ₹4,500/₹5,500. However, limited arrivals of 100-125 bags and strong demand in Mahoba pushed peanut prices up by ₹600 to ₹4,000/₹4,600 per quintal. Meanwhile, prices in Mauranipur fell by ₹200 to ₹3,600/₹4,400 per quintal.

Peanut prices in Bikaner rose by ₹500/₹600 per quintal due to robust trading in shelled peanut seeds. Although the issue of peanut exports to Indonesia is still pending, demand has begun to increase in other importing countries. Meanwhile, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, peanut prices fell by ₹100-₹200 per quintal due to sluggish trading at high prices.

Demand for peanut oil remained strong, pushing prices higher in Gujarat, Mumbai, Bikaner, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Newai/Tonk. Filtered peanut prices also increased by ₹2-₹3 per kg, but branded peanut oil prices remained stable at previous levels in Kota.