Following recent gains from postponed planting in Gujarat and Rajasthan, cumin prices were down 0.17% to ₹24,040. In Gujarat, the sowing area has come down from 2.44 lakh hectares to 57,915 hectares as on November 25. Due to high temperatures, this is only 15% of the 3.81 lakh hectares used for sowing. The delay of 20-25 days has led to an overall decline in productivity by 10%, while in Rajasthan, the crop is expected to fall by 10%-15%.
India produced cumin from 11.87 lakh hectares to 8.6 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, compared to 5.77 lakh tonnes in the previous year. However, production may be hampered this year due to late sowing of cumin seeds and reduced cultivation. Indian cumin is still very reasonably priced in the world, even at $3,050 per tonne, attracting buyers from countries like China. Amidst Middle Eastern concerns, export demand has increased due to competitive pricing and strong purchasing power. Between April and September 2024, cumin exports rose by 70.02% to 119,249.51 tonnes, with September exports up 162.34% year-on-year.
