New Delhi: Gram prices fluctuated during the week due to sluggish buying and selling activity. However, prices found support towards the weekend as selling pressure eased and demand improved. Supplies of domestic gram from major producing regions have been low for the past fortnight. Most stocks have moved out of farmers' hands, and market arrivals remain limited. Gram arrivals in major markets are reported to be approximately 40% lower compared to the same period last year. Supply from distant markets has been disrupted by rising truck freight and transportation costs resulting from the Iran-Israel-US conflict. Due to low arrivals, pulse mills are unable to procure sufficient raw material and are limiting their purchases to immediate requirements. Despite weak domestic supply, imported gram is failing to provide significant relief to the market. Australian gram prices are hovering around $670–$680 per tonne; however, high ocean freight and transportation costs make imported gram expensive in the Indian market. The combination of low domestic arrivals, limited selling, and costly imports is providing price support at lower levels. As buying interest is not yet very strong, a sustained one-sided rally is unlikely. Nevertheless, the market could strengthen in the coming days if arrivals remain low and demand from pulse mills improves. Amidst sluggish trading, Delhi gram prices saw fluctuations of ₹100 per quintal during the week; ultimately, prices for 'Madhya Pradesh-line' gram rose to ₹6,325 per quintal, and 'Rajasthan-line' gram reached ₹6,400 per quintal.

Due to subdued selling and limited buying activity, gram prices in Rajasthan saw fluctuations of ₹50–₹75 per quintal during the week. By the weekend, prices settled at ₹5,200–₹5,850 in Jodhpur, ₹6,400 in Jaipur, ₹5,800–₹6,000 in Bikaner, ₹5,800–₹5,900 in Kishangarh, and ₹5,600–₹5,941 per quintal in Kota.

Driven by reduced selling from stockists and sustained demand from pulse millers, gram prices in Maharashtra rose by ₹50 per quintal during the week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹5,800–₹6,600 in Solapur, ₹6,300–₹6,400 in Latur, ₹6,650 in Akola, ₹6,650 in Nagpur, and ₹6,200–₹6,400 per quintal in Ahmednagar.

With buying and selling activity remaining subdued, gram prices in Madhya Pradesh saw fluctuations of ₹50–₹100 per quintal during the week. By the weekend, prices settled at ₹5,900–₹6,250 in Ashoknagar, ₹5,800–₹6,200 in Ganjbasoda, ₹5,900–₹6,300 in Sagar, ₹6,450–₹6,500 in Katni, and ₹6,550–₹6,650 per quintal in Indore.

Increased buying activity led to a rise of ₹25 per quintal in gram prices in Kanpur during the week, bringing the price to ₹6,500 per quintal by the weekend. Meanwhile, Raipur gram prices saw a decline of ₹50 per quintal this week, with rates settling at ₹6,400–₹6,550 per quintal by the weekend.

Due to continued weak buying interest, prices of chana dal (split gram) fell by ₹50–₹75 per quintal during the week. Consequently, weekend rates stood at ₹7,325–₹7,625 per quintal in Delhi, ₹7,700–₹7,800 in Bhatapara, ₹7,675 in Katni, ₹7,700–₹7,850 in Gulbarga, ₹7,650–₹8,000 in Jalgaon, ₹7,325 in Jaipur, and ₹7,200–₹7,300 in Kanpur.