Fennel Prices Rising: No Sign of a Downturn
29-Jul-2026 07:18 PM
New Delhi. Currently, fennel prices remain stable due to subdued export activity; however, sources indicate that prices are set to rise again in the coming days due to a shortage of stocks. It is worth noting that *iGrain India* had advised its readers in the June 30th issue that there was no likelihood of a price drop; at that time, the export price for fennel was ₹99–100, whereas it has now risen to ₹109–110.
Notably, for the current season, fennel sowing was carried out over a smaller area in regions outside the major producing states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Furthermore, unseasonal rains in Rajasthan following the sowing period caused damage to the crop in March. Consequently, the country's fennel production for the current season is estimated at around 16–17 lakh bags (55 kg per bag), compared to last year's estimates of 18–19 lakh bags.
Market Arrivals
As the bulk of the total produce has already reached the markets, current arrivals are quite low. Arrivals at the major market of Unjha have dropped to just 2,000 bags, while the Merta and Nagaur markets in Rajasthan are seeing arrivals of 1,000–1,500 bags. Prices for average-quality fennel in the markets are being quoted at ₹8,500–9,500 per quintal. Sources state that approximately 75–80% of the total produce from Gujarat has already arrived in the markets, while arrivals from Rajasthan are estimated to be around 60–70%. It is noteworthy that production estimates for the current season stood at 7–7.50 lakh bags for Gujarat and 7.50–8 lakh bags for Rajasthan, with an additional 1.5–2 lakh bags estimated from other regions.
Stock
Sources indicate that the current stock of fennel seeds in the markets of producing centers is estimated at 700,000 to 800,000 bags. It is estimated that Gujarat holds 400,000 to 450,000 bags, while Rajasthan holds 300,000 to 350,000 bags. The majority of export trade originates from the markets in Gujarat.
No Downturn
Currently, the rise in fennel prices has stalled due to subdued export demand, and prices have remained stable over the past week. However, prices are likely to rise in the coming days because market arrivals have decreased, and stock levels are also low. Notably, fennel export prices stood at ₹95–96 during May, rose to ₹99–100 in June, and are currently being quoted at ₹109–110.
Exports
After a sharp decline in fennel exports during the 2025–26 fiscal year (April–March), an improvement was recorded in the first two months of the current 2026–27 season. According to data released by the Spices Board, fennel exports totaled 5,980 tonnes during April–May 2026, generating revenue of ₹88.28 crore. In contrast, exports during April–May 2025 stood at 5,885 tonnes, with revenue of ₹78.66 crore. It is worth noting that total fennel exports for the 2025–26 year were 33,038 tonnes, yielding revenue of ₹421.22 crore, whereas total exports in 2024–25 were 76,586 tonnes, generating revenue of ₹765.44 crore.