Mumbai. The lentil market witnessed a softening trend during the current week. Prices declined due to increased availability of new lentils in producing markets and weak demand. Due to the increasing arrivals, supply pressure in the market has remained strong, preventing prices from receiving the expected support. Selling by stockists and importers has also increased as the new crop began arriving. Given the ample availability, major buyers are currently adopting a cautious approach, limiting their purchases and purchasing only as needed. This has led to a bearish market sentiment and pressure on prices. The combined effect of a lack of buying at higher levels and increasing supply has led to weak lentil prices. Arrivals of new lentils have gradually increased, particularly in the major producing markets of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. As farmers begin selling their new crop, daily arrivals in the markets are steadily increasing, leading to competitive selling in the wholesale market. Lentil offtake also remains weaker than normal. Due to weak demand in the pulse market, millers' purchases remain limited, which is not supporting lentil prices.

According to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada, a Canadian government agency, farmers are expected to reduce lentil sowing by 2026. According to the report, the total acreage under lentil cultivation is expected to decrease by approximately 5.5 percent this year, to approximately 4.1 million acres. The main reasons for this decrease in lentil sowing are believed to be changes in crop rotation and farmers' shift to other crops. If this estimate proves correct, lentil production in Canada could also be affected in the future. Lentil sowing is also expected to decline in Saskatchewan, Canada's major producing province. Here, where approximately 90 percent of Canada's lentils are cultivated, the area is projected to decline by approximately 4.3 percent to 3.6 million acres. Similarly, the province of Alberta is expected to see a further decline in lentil acreage. The area under lentil cultivation is projected to decline by approximately 13.4 percent to approximately 4.9 million acres.

Lentil exports from Canada registered a significant increase in January. According to available data, approximately 118,000 tons of lentils were bulk loaded in January, a better level than previous months. This brings total lentil loadings so far in the current marketing year to 749,100 tons. This figure is higher than the 720,400 tons recorded in the same period last year, indicating that lentil exports are maintaining a relatively good pace this year. Last year in January only about 77,400 tonnes of lentils were loaded from Canada, whereas in December this figure was about 96,300 tonnes. In comparison to this, a good increase in loading has been recorded in January this year.

Due to continued selling by importers, the prices of imported lentils declined by Rs 25/50 per quintal during the current week and with this decline, the prices at the end of the week remained at Mundra Rs 5500/5525, Hazira Rs 5550, Container Canada Rs 5750/5800 and Australia Rs 5800 per quintal. Whereas, there was no rise or fall in the prices of Kolkata lentils this week and the prices remained stable at Australia Rs 5600/5650 and Canada Rs 5550/5600 per quintal at the end of the week.

Due to continued selling pressure from stockists, the price of large lentils in Delhi declined by Rs. 75 and small lentils by Rs. 100/150 per quintal during the current week. The prices at the weekend were Rs. 6650 in Kota, Rs. 7400 in Bundi, Rs. 7500 in Uttar Pradesh, and Rs. 6250 per quintal in Desi Badi.

Due to increased selling pressure and sluggish demand, the prices of large lentils in Madhya Pradesh declined by Rs. 100/200 per quintal this week. With this decline, the prices at the weekend were Rs. 5500/5800 in Ashoknagar, Rs. 5500/5800 in Bina, Rs. 5700/5900 in Ganjbasoda, Rs. 5700/6100 in Sagar, Rs. 5700/6000 in Damoh, Rs. 5800/6050 in Indore, Rs. 5550 in Kareli, Rs. 5700/6260 in Katni and Rs. 6200 per quintal.

Due to subdued buying, small lentil prices in Uttar Pradesh declined by Rs. 100 and large lentil prices declined by Rs. 50 per quintal during the current week. Prices at Bareilly small lentils were Rs. 8000, large lentils Rs. 6250, Lalitpur large lentils Rs. 5800/5950, small lentils Rs. 7000/7050, and Orai lentils Rs. 5000/6050 per quintal at the weekend.

Due to the widespread decline and subdued buying, Bihar lentil prices declined by Rs. 100 per quintal this week, with prices at Barh being Rs. 6200, Khusrupur Rs. 6100, and Mokama Rs. 6200 per quintal at the weekend. Similarly, Raipur lentil prices also declined by Rs. 50 per quintal this week, remaining at Rs. 5800 per quintal at the weekend.

Due to the fall in the price of Masoor and sluggish demand, the prices of Masoor Dal declined by Rs 100 per quintal during the current week and at the weekend the prices were Rs 6700/6800 in Indore, Rs 7200/7500 in Barh, Rs 7100/7400 in Khushrupur, Rs 7200/7500 in Mokama, Rs 8000/10000 in Chandausi and Rs 7350 per quintal in Hyderabad.