NCDEX coriander down 1%; demand low, inventories up.

Futures contracts of coriander on the NCDEX were trading 1% lower because of weak demand from domestic retailers. The fall in prices was also triggered by a 518 tonne rise in inventories at exchange-designated warehouses to 18,586 tonne. The most active May contract on the NCDEX traded down 1% from the previous close. In Kota, the benchmark market in Rajasthan, the Badami variety of coriander and the Eagle variety both unchanged from previous close. Arrivals were pegged at 6,000 bags (1bag=40 kg) down 2,000 bags from the previous day.

India coffee exports during Jan 1- Apr 19.

The Coffee Board of India has finalised its crop estimate for 2015-16 at a record-high of 348,000 tonne, up from 327,000 tonne produced a year ago, but down from previous estimate of 350,000 tn. The board has estimated the output for 2016-17 at 316,700 MT tonne, down 9% on year.

Coriander prices fall in Ramganj on higher arrivals.

Prices of coriander were down in Ramganj as arrivals were higher. In Ramganj, a key wholesale market in Rajasthan, the Badami variety of coriander and the Eagle variety both down 100 rupees from previous close. Arrivals in Ramganj were pegged at 20,000 bags (1bag=40kg) up 7,000 bags from the previous day.

NCDEX cotton oilcake down on weak demand, spot cues.

Futures contracts of cottonseed oilcake on the NCDEX fell because of weak demand in physical markets. The most active May contract of cottonseed oilcake on the NCDEX was down 0.5% from the previous close. In Akola, the benchmark market in Maharashtra, cottonseed oilcake and in Kadi, Gujarat, both down 20 rupees from previous close. Cheaper alternatives for cattle feed such as mustard feed and guar feed weakened the demand for cottonseed oilcake.

Punjab pegs year to Jun cotton output up 220% on year.

Cotton crop 1.26 millon bales vs 393,000 bales year ago. Cotton output in Punjab, among the largest producers of the fibre, is estimated to rise a sharp 220% on year to 1.26 millon bales (1bale=170 kg) in 2016-17 (Jul-Jun) because of higher acreage and better yield Cotton output in the state had fallen last year after the crop was severely attacked by white fly.

Govt officials say no plans to hike import duty on wheat to 25%.

The government does not plan to hike import duty on wheat to 25% from the current 10%. There was no immediate need to raise the duty, as prices were above the minimum support price in most market. Procurement was progressing well and the harvest this year was also good. The government had on Mar 28, imposed 10% customs duty on import of wheat to prevent fall in prices following a bumper crop in the country this year.

Madhya Pradesh 2016-17 wheat crop seen record 23 millon tonne.

Madhya Pradesh is likely to produce a record 22.5 millon tonne wheat in the crop year ending June due to higher acreage and better yield. The second largest producer of wheat is 22% higher on year and even above the previous estimate of 21.0 millon tonne pegged in January. Higher minimum support price has also encouraged farmers to grow more wheat this year. Adequate showers during monsoon led to better yields for and wheat this year.

Govt buys keep wheat prices stable in key spot markets.

Wheat prices in major wholesale markets across the country were stable despite high arrivals, as government procurement restricted any fall. Mill-quality wheat was being sold unchanged from previous close. A total of 20,000-30,000 bags (1bag=100kg) of wheat arrive in Punjab daily and arrivals are likely to double by the end of April. Wheat prices were unchanged in other major markets of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Prices of the grain fell by 20-30 rupees in Delhi market due to high arrivals from Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. As of Tuesday, the government had procured 11.9 million tonne wheat for the current marketing year that started April, 13.7% higher than in the year-ago period. The May wheat contract on the NCDEX ended at 1,650 rupees per 100 kg, up 0.4% from previous close.