Copra prices increased at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee yards in Erode as buyers from Kerala, especially crushers, bought huge stocks.

But despite the higher prices at the Avalpoondurai Regulated market Committee arrivals were low at 670 quintals, notwithstanding a Rs 200 a quintal rise in prices.

Buyers from Tuticorin and local places purchased stocks.

The first quality copra was sold at Rs 4,835-5,020 a quintal, the second quality at Rs 3,850-4,755. On Friday last, the first quality copra was sold at Rs 4,660-4,850, second quality at Rs 3,745-4,615; 2,073 quintals arrived and sold.

Oil crushers said that they are already having adequate stock of copra and are buying more copra as the price of coconut oil has started increasing.

R.M. Palanisamy a coconut oil dealer, said that coconut oil was selling at Rs 1,050 for 15 kg loose pack, higher than last week’s price. Prices of the oil will go up in the next week, he said. In the open market, copra is selling at Rs 5,200 and oil crushers are buying it.

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