Weekly commodities market report

DRY FRUITS: Mixed conditions continued to prevail on the wholesale dry fruits market today with prices of cashew and walnut rising on pick up in demand, while almond and dry dates declined for want of support. 

Marketmen said holding back of stocks by speculators amid negligible arrivals from producing centres, attributed to the rise in select dry fruits prices.

Cashew kernel No 180, No 210, No 240 and No 320 increased up to Rs 10 to Rs 625-655, Rs 585-605, Rs 520-545 and Rs 440-505 and its broken firmed up to Rs 435-450, Rs 400-420 and Rs 290-370, as compared with Rs 420-440, Rs 370-420 and Rs 280-330 per kg, respectively.

Chilgoza-roasted spurted at Rs 1,400-1,600 instead of Rs 830-880 per kg on fall in supply from Afghanistan. Coconut power traded higher at Rs 2,400-2,500 against previous closing of Rs 2,300-2,400 per 25 kg.

Pistachio hairati and peshawari prices rose up to Rs 50 to settle at Rs 1,120-1,220 and Rs 1,350-1,400 per kg respectively. Walnut kernel prices also increased to Rs 400-650 from previous mark of Rs 350-580 per kg.

On the other hand, almond california prices fell further by Rs 100 to finish at Rs 10,200 per 40 kg. Copra and dry dates prices fell by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 5,700-5,800 and Rs 3,200-8,500 per quintal respectively.

Kishmish Indian yellow also declined by Rs 100 to finish at Rs 3,900-4,500 per 40 kg.

KIRANA: Firm conditions continued unabated on the wholesale market during the week under review as prices of black pepper and cardamom surged on increased buying by retailers and stockists on account of marriage season amid restricted arrivals from producing regions.

Traders said increased offtake by local parties as well as stockists and a firm trend in most spices in futures trade, mainly buoyed the trading sentiments. Exports demand also influenced select spices' prices, they said.

Black pepper prices rose by Rs 100 to Rs 21,800-21,900 per quintal.

Cardamom brown (Jhundiwali and Kanchicut) traded higher at Rs 890-900 and Rs 850-980 from previous closing of Rs 735-750 and Rs 840-950 and its small varieties such as chitridar, colour robin, bold and extra bold also surged to Rs 1,000-1,100, Rs 965-980, Rs 985-1,000 and Rs 1,100-1,110 instead of Rs 780-850, Rs 860-870, Rs 880-900 and Rs 1,030-1,040 per kg, respectively. 

Mace red and yellow prices increased up to Rs 50 to conclude at Rs 1,200-1,450 and Rs 1,430-1,470 per kg.

Red chilli rose by Rs 500 to settle at Rs 5,200-10,500 per quintal on firm trends at country's leading wholesale market, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

Turmeric prices traded higher at Rs 18,000-21,000 against the previous closing of Rs 15,500-18,500 per quintal.

Jeera common and jeera best quality also rose up to Rs 600 to Rs 13,200-13,400 and Rs 14,500-15,000 per quintal, respectively.

SUGAR: The sweetener prices closed on a mixed note in the national capital during the past week as sugar mill delivery rose on pick up in demand from retailers while sugar ready slipped on adequate supply.

Retailers and bulk consumers were enlarging their positions to meet the ongoing marriage season demand, which mainly led to rise in sugar mill delivery prices.

Increased offtake from soft-drink and ice-cream makers against limited arrivals further supported the prices. 

Mill delivery medium and second grade prices which remained stable during the major part of week but at the fag-end it found fresh buying support from retailers and finished higher by Rs 25 to Rs 2,825-2,975 and Rs 2,805-2,965 per quintal respectively.  

However, sugar ready medium and second grade lacked necessary buying support and lost Rs 25 each to Rs 3,000-3,150 and Rs 2,975-3,125 per quintal respectively.

JAGGERY: Gur prices continued to slide for the second straight week in the national capital on increased arrivals from producing areas amid sluggish demand from stockists and local parties.

In a similar fashion, gur prices in Muzzafarnagar and Muradnagar, also showed a downtrend on lack of buying.

Marketmen said increased arrivals from producing areas from Uttar Pradesh against sluggish demand from stockists and local parties mainly pulled down wholesale gur prices.

At Delhi, gur chakku and dhayya prices dipped by Rs 150 and Rs 200 to Rs 2,400-2,450 and Rs 2,600-2,650, while shakkar lost Rs 100 to Rs 2,500-2,600 per quintal on subdued local demand. 

In Muzzafarnagar mandi, gur raskat, chakku and khurpa were also traded lower at Rs 1850-1900, Rs 2,075-2,250 and Rs 1,975-2,000 against last close of Rs 1,925-2,000, Rs 2250-2375 and Rs 2,150-2,200 per quintal.

Gur pedi in Muradnagar, also followed suit and quoted lower by Rs 50 to Rs 2,300-2,350 and dhaya tumbled by Rs 250 to Rs 2,300-2,350 per quintal.