Chennai. Urad prices recorded a decline this week due to increased selling pressure from importers and sluggish demand from pulse mills. The market remained under pressure as buyer activity at higher price levels waned and importers stepped up their selling. Meanwhile, although arrivals of domestic Urad remain limited, prices did not receive significant support due to relatively weak demand. With buying interest for Urad dal remaining sluggish, millers are currently purchasing only to meet immediate requirements and are refraining from large-scale deals. According to government data, Urad has been sown across 22.86 lakh hectares in the country so far, compared to 20.29 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Thus, the Urad acreage in the current season is 2.57 lakh hectares higher than last year. Arrivals of summer Urad in producing markets remain lower compared to last year, providing some support to the market at lower levels. Traders believe the market could see an improvement after mid-August as demand for Urad Mogar and Gota rises. Market experts anticipate that the new Urad crop will start arriving in the market from mid-September. Consequently, the market's direction in the coming days will depend on the pace of imports, domestic demand, and the arrival of the new crop. Due to increased selling pressure from importers and persistent weak demand, Chennai Urad prices fell by ₹325–375 per quintal this week, bringing rates to ₹8,825 per quintal for FAQ and ₹9,350 per quintal for SQ varieties. Burma

Due to increased selling by exporters and sluggish export demand, prices for Burmese Urad (FAQ and SQ varieties) fell by $10 per tonne each during the week. By the weekend, prices stood at $905 per tonne for FAQ and $995 per tonne for SQ.

Reflecting the decline at ports and continued sluggish demand, Urad prices in Delhi dropped by ₹100 per quintal this week. By the weekend, prices settled at ₹9,250 per quintal for FAQ and ₹9,750 per quintal for SQ.

Increased selling pressure and weak demand led to a decline of ₹100–200 per quintal in Urad prices across Madhya Pradesh this week. Weekend prices stood at ₹6,000–9,000 per quintal in Jabalpur, ₹8,001–8,601 in Kareli, ₹6,000–8,700 in Damoh, and ₹6,500–10,000 in Indore.

Due to persistent weak demand, Urad prices in Maharashtra saw a decline of ₹100–200 per quintal this week. Weekend prices were recorded at ₹9,450 per quintal in Akola, ₹5,000–8,500 in Latur, ₹7,700–9,250 in Jalgaon, ₹5,500–9,000 in Barshi, and ₹4,500–8,500 in Ahmednagar.

Impacted by the overall downtrend and weak buying interest, Urad prices in Krishna District and Vijayawada fell by ₹300 per quintal this week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹9,350 per quintal in Krishna District and ₹9,400 per quintal in Vijayawada. Similarly, prices of Urad in Rajasthan also saw a softening of ₹100–200 per quintal this week; by the weekend, rates stood at ₹8,100–9,100 per quintal in Jaipur and ₹6,500–8,400 per quintal in Kota.

Driven by the decline in Urad prices and sluggish demand, Urad dal prices also recorded a drop of ₹100–200 per quintal this week. By the weekend, prices stood at ₹11,400–12,600 per quintal in Delhi, ₹10,400–11,450 in Bhatapara, ₹12,200 in Jalgaon, ₹9,800–10,800 in Meerut, and ₹11,000–12,300 in Vijayawada.