MUMBAI, 3 November 2025: When milk is broken, only those women who don’t know how to make cheese are confused. The Rabi crop sowing season is currently underway in the country, but the time table is getting worse due to the unseasonal rain. Many farmers who have already sown are also in a similar situation.
But in this situation, those who have experience in sowing a new or have the idea of changing the crop will not face any problems. However, one thing is certain that due to the recent rains, the mindset of people who were sluggish in the market has also become bullish. If we look at the NCDEX futures data, on 24 October-2025, the price of coriander was at the level of INR 7800 per quintal, which increased after the raining reports and crossed the level of INR 8300 per quintal on 31st October-2025. However, experts call this boom short-lived.
Due to rains in the last week, the arrival of goods in the mandis was low. Also, the sowing has been delayed due to rains. So far, the sowing in Gujarat is about 10 percent higher than last year, while it is 10 to 15 percent lower in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Traders are still getting an estimate of the sowing and carry forward stock. If there is any remaining, the purchase for the month of Ramzan this time is likely to come in November and December. In market yards like Gondal and Rajkot in Gujarat, an average of 300 to 500 sacks of old coriander were received daily in the last week.
According to the figures given by experts, the carry forward stock of coriander for the marketing year 2025-26 is 1,38,000 tonnes, which was 1,93,000 tonnes last year. While the production will be about five lakh tons. Last year too, the same figure was reported. The import of coriander into the country is estimated to be around 10,000 tonnes so far, compared to 15,000 tonnes last year.
If we look at the production and stock figures, the total supply in the marketing year 2024-25 was 7,08,000 tonnes, which is estimated to be 6,48,000 tonnes in 2025-26. On the other hand, exports are estimated to be 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes and domestic consumption is estimated to be 5,00,000 to 5,50,000 tonnes. Thus, if the supply is 7,00,000 tonnes against the total market demand of 5,50,000 tonnes of coriander, then naturally the price cannot rise very much. However, due to the sudden demand in the marketing year 2023-24, India exported 1,09,000 tonnes of coriander. If such a demand comes and exports increase, it can be the reason for the rise.
It was earlier expected that farmers would sow less coriander this time due to high stock and low prices. Traders sitting at the cultivating centres were of the opinion that this time the yield would decrease by 10 to 15 percent. But due to the increase in moisture in the soil due to the rains of the last one week, the yield may be good. In addition, the rise in prices may encourage these farmers to coriander sowing.
However, since the market is uncertain, farmers should buy NCDEX put options along with sowing and fix minimum profit. The average daily volume of futures at the exchange is currently INR 20 to 25 crore and the deal is safe as there is an open interest of 20,000 tonnes.
The biggest factor in the current boom will be how long the rainy season lasts and how much the crop is delayed. Traders expect farmers to increase coriander planting if prices remain above INR 8,000.
By Kalpesh Sheth is an commodities expert with years of experience.
Image credit: puremart.in
