Onion prices tad down in Lasalgaon, supply falls.

Prices of onion in Lasalgaon, Maharashtra, were a shade lower as supply was largely sufficient to meet demand despite a fall in arrivals. In Lasalgaon, 900-1,000 trolleys of 1.5-2.0 tn onion each, came to the market, down from 1,600-1,700 trolleys. Arrivals were higher as the market was closed the previous three days on account of truckers strike and weekend. Onion was auctioned in a range of 900-1,200 rupees per 100 kg, compared with 1,000-1,200 rupees.

Potato prices fall on higher arrivals in Mumbai.

Prices of potato fell in Mumbai due to increase in arrivals. At Vashi market in Navi Mumbai, arrivals of potato were 110 trucks, each truck carrying 15-20 tn. Arrivals increased as the week-long transporters’ strike has ended. Potato was sold in the range of 1,200-1,600 rupees per 100 kg. In Delhi, potato prices were more or less stable in the range of 1,200-1,400 rupees per 100 kg even as arrivals rose to 131 trucks from 110 trucks on Friday. Prices of potato are likely to soften as supply of the new crop starts rising in the coming months.

Kharif paddy area down 12% YoY at 19.8 mln ha.

Farmers across the country have sown paddy across 19.76 mln ha this kharif season as of Thursday, down 12.4% on year. The area under paddy was also below the average area of 22.40 mln ha for the period. The fall in acreage can be attributed to lower sowing in top growing states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Weak monsoon rains in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh slowed the process of sowing. Eastern Uttar Pradesh had received 298.1 mm rainfall during Jun 1-Jul 30, 25% below normal. Overall monsoon rains in eastern and northeastern India during Jun 1-Jul 30 was 555.4 mm, 28% below normal.

Jaipur barley down as rise in prices hit demand.

Prices of barley were down in Jaipur due to sluggish demand from stockists after prices hit a three-week high of 1,400 rupees per 100 kg. In the benchmark market of Jaipur, barley was sold for 1,380 rupees per 100 kg, down 20 rupees. Subdued demand from malt industries and talks of imports of the grain from Argentina following concerns over quality of the domestic stocks also weighed on prices. However, limited supplies and demand from poultry feed sector, cushioned the fall in prices. Arrivals were unchanged from Monday at 800-1,000 bags (1 bag = 85 kg).

NCDEX barley down tailing Jaipur spot market.

Futures contracts of barley were down on NCDEX, tailing weakness in the benchmark spot market of Jaipur. On NCDEX, the most-active August contract was at 1,608 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.16%. Prices of barley fell in Jaipur due to sluggish demand from stockists after prices hit a three-week high of 1,400 rupees per 100 kg.

Chana cost up in Delhi on millers demand, low supply.

Chana prices rose in Delhi because of demand from dal millers along with lower supplies. In Delhi, the benchmark market for chana, prices were up at 4,500 rupees per 100 kg, up 50 rupees. Arrivals of chana in Delhi were down at 225-300 tn as against 450-525 tn. Demand is likely to improve in the coming weeks due to upcoming festivals. Chana August contract on NCDEX was up 1.3% at 4,226 rupees per 100 kg, tracking gains in the spot market.

Urad acreage down 16% YoY at 2.95 mln ha.

Farmers in the country sowed kharif urad across 2.95 mln ha as of Wednesday, down 16.1% on year. In Madhya Pradesh, the largest grower, area under urad was down 12.0% on year at 1.43 mln ha as farmers shifted to paddy.

India tur acreage dn 4.4% on yr at 3.5 mln ha

India’s tur acreage was down 4.4% on year at 3.5 mln ha as of Wednesday. Area in Maharashtra, the largest producer, has been lower at 1.05 mln ha due to erratic rainfall. However, in Karnataka, the acreage has been higher as farmers are assured of getting the minimum support price. Area under tur in Karnataka as of Wednesday was up 9.5% on year at 806,000 ha.

Moong acreage up 3.7% on year at 2.75 mln ha.

The area under moong across the country was at 2.745 mln ha as of Wednesday, up 3.7% on year. In Rajasthan, the largest grower of moong, the area under the crop jumped 20.7% on year to 1.586 mln ha. Rainfall in the state has been good so far, with the state recording 16% above normal rainfall during Jun 1-Jul 30. The rise in moong acreage this year is due to the government announcing a steep hike of 50% in the minimum support price for 2018-19.

Chana prices rise 1.17% on firm spot demand.

Chana prices went up by 1.17 per cent to Rs 4,219 per quintal in futures trade as participants created fresh positions, driven by rising demand from dal mills in the spot market. Besides, tight stocks positions following drop in arrivals from producing regions fuelled the uptrend. At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, chana for delivery in September went up by Rs 49, or 1.17 per cent. The rise in chana prices to surging demand in the spot market against restricted supplies from producing regions.

Tur markets at Akola, Kalaburagi shut.

The market in Akola, the benchmark market for tur, was closed due to disagreements among some traders and officials of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee regarding payments via e-NAM. A meeting between both the sides was underway. The market in Kalaburagi, a key market for the commodity, was shut on account of a local festival.

India tur acreage down 4.4% on yr at 3.5 mln ha.

India tur acreage was down 4.4% on year at 3.5 mln ha. Area in Maharashtra, the largest producer, has been lower at 1.05 mln ha due to erratic rainfall. However, in Karnataka, the acreage has been higher as farmers are assured of getting the minimum support price. Area under tur in Karnataka as of Wednesday was up 9.5% on year at 806,000 ha.

More farmers switching to paddy in Telangana.

With the decision of the State government to provide irrigation facility to the ayacut of Musi project for kharif season, farmers of 42 villages in Suryapet and Nalgonda district under left and right canals are now switching from cotton to paddy cultivation. Out of 35,000 acres of ayacut under left and right flank canals of Musi project, cultivation of paddy was taken up by the farmers in majority of ayacut area in view of irrigation facility.

Telangana Kharif paddy procurement expected to be 30 lk tons.

The Telangana government 30 lakh tons of paddy was expected to be procured from farmers during this years Kharif season in the state and asked its civil supplies department to prepare an action plan for it. A total of 107.92 lakh tons of paddy was purchased from 22.18 lakh farmers during 2016 Kharif, 2017 Rabi and Kharif and 2018 Rabi seasons.

Pakistan’s basmati rice exports increased by 19.14 percent.

During the period under discussion, Pakistan has improved its rice exports as compared to previous corresponding period. The exports during the period July-June 2016-17 stood at 496,263 metric tons valuing at $453.441 million. Pakistan’s basmati rice have seen a considerable 19.14 percent growth in quantity exported as compared to the previous period. Collectively, 4.106 million tons rice worth $2.073 billion was exported in the last 12 months if the last financial year, however, 3.523 million tons of rice valuing $1.606 billion was recorded during the corresponding previous financial year. The overall growth of rice exports stood at 26.78 percent.

Jaipur barley prices at 3-wk high on limited supply.

Prices of barley hit a three-week high in Jaipur due to limited supplies in the market and as demand from domestic stockists and poultry feed industry improved. In the benchmark market of Jaipur, barley was sold for 1,400 rupees per 100 kg, up 20 rupees. Arrivals were unchanged from Saturday at 800-1,000 bags (1 bag = 85 kg). However, concerns over quality of the domestic stock restricted demand from malt makers, thereby, capping gains in barley prices.

ICRA does not see sustained recovery in sugar prices due to glut.

Ratings agency ICRA expects sugar prices to fall again on the likelihood of another bumper year of production in 2018-19 (Oct-Sep). Prices of the sweetener have recovered to around 3,350 rupees per 100 kg from a low of 2,650 rupees due to various government measures. Indian Sugar Mills Association has forecast sugar output during the next season at an all-time high of 35.0-35.5 mln tn, beating the record production of the ongoing season at 32.3 mln tn. In June, the government had asked mills to create a 3-mln-tn buffer stock of the sweetener. It had also fixed a floor price for sale of white sugar by mills at 29 rupees per kg for the ongoing season to help them clear cane arrears, which had topped 230 bln rupees in May. After the government measures and recovery in sugar prices, the arrears declined to around 178 bln rupees as on Jul 18. Further, the hike in FRP (fair and remunerative price) is likely to result in margin pressures and provide further impetus to farmers to sow sugarcane, which is likely to exacerbate the oversupply conditions. Earlier this month, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved fixing the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane for 2018-19 (Oct-Sep) at 275 rupees per 100 kg. For 2018-19, the government has linked the cane price of 275 rupees per 100 kg to a basic recovery rate of 10% instead of the usual 9.5%, taking into account the increase in average sugar recovery from cane in the past few years. In the 2018-19 season, the government would provide a premium of 2.75 rupees per 100 kg for each 0.1 percentage point rise in recovery rate. At a recovery rate of 10%, this seasons fair price works out to be around 268.4 rupees per 100 kg, which means the effective increase in cane price for 2018-19 is nearly 2.5%.

Centre-South Brazil Jul 1-15 sugar output 2.39 mln tn, down 23% YoY.

Mills in Brazils centre-south region produced 2.39 mln tn sugar during the first fortnight of July, down 23.3% from 3.11 mln tn in the year-ago period. Mills in the region, which accounts for more than 90% of the countrys total sugar output, crushed 44.88 mln tn of sugarcane during Jul 1-15, down 6.5% on year. During Apr 1-Jul 15, mills in the region crushed 267.42 mln tn of cane, up 8.1% on year. During the same period, they produced 12.14 mln tn sugar, down 14.5% on year. Sugar production in the region during the period was lower despite the rise in crushing because mills diverted more cane towards ethanol, whose prices are more attractive than sugars.