The rice market saw a steady trend with prices of aromatic and non-basmati varieties maintaining their previous levels on Friday. Mr Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company, told Business Line that the market is moving at snail's pace. Traders, at the beginning of this season, were expecting the market to touch Rs 6,300 a quintal but it's currently trading at around Rs 5,300 a quintal, he said.

Mr Chandna added that although at the same time last year, the market was trading at Rs 5,300 a quintal, the the market had then opened at Rs 4,300 a quintal. While this year, the market opened at Rs 5,200 a quintal and is up by just Rs 100-150, he added.

There was a drop of Rs 20-50 a quintal in both aromatic and non-basmati varieties this week.

Pusa-1121 (steam) ruled at Rs 5,200-5,350 a quintal, Pusa-1121(sela) at Rs 4,250-4,360, and Pusa-1121(raw) at Rs 5,150-5,200. Basmati (sela) was quoted at Rs 6,200-6,250 and basmati (raw) at Rs 7,300-7,370. Duplicate basmati ruled at around Rs 3,960 a quintal.

Brokens such as Tibar ruled at Rs 3,000-3,400, Dubar at Rs 2,200-2,500 and Mongra at Rs 1,800-2,000.

Sharbati (sela) was sold at around Rs 2,680, Sharbati (steam) at Rs 3,000-3,070, Permal (sela) at Rs 1,900-2,030 and Permal (steam) at Rs 2,100-2,180 a quintal. For the brokens of Sharbati variety, Tibar was quoted at Rs 2,500, Dubar at 2,050 and Mongra at Rs 1,450.

Paddy Trading

Around 700 bags of PR were sold at Rs 1,030 a quintal. About 800 bags of Pusa (duplicate basmati) went for Rs 2,000-2,050 and around 1,000 bags of Pusa-1121 at Rs 2,000-2,330. Pure basmati was sold at Rs 2,200-2,640 a quintal for approximately 600 bags.