Short-term corrections emerge despite strong long-term price trends

India’s wholesale oilseed markets presented a mixed pricing landscape, with groundnut and soybean posting gains while rapeseed & mustard remained under pressure, according to data from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare .

Groundnut Holds Near MSP, Shows Strong Annual Gains

Groundnut prices stood at Rs 7128.09 per quintal on April 26, slightly below its MSP of Rs 7263, but registering a 4.28 per cent increase over the past week from Rs 6835.07. On a monthly basis, prices eased marginally by 1.61 per cent from Rs 7245.36. However, the longer-term trend remains positive, with prices up 30.35 per cent year-on-year from Rs 5468.03, and higher by 15.20 per cent and 8.06 per cent compared to two and three years ago, respectively.

Rapeseed & Mustard Faces Short-Term Pressure Despite Long-Term Gains

Rapeseed & mustard prices were recorded at Rs 6293.34 per quintal, above the MSP of Rs 6075, but declined 0.65 per cent week-on-week from Rs 6334.86. The crop also saw a 2.70 per cent drop over the past month from Rs 6468.48. Despite this short-term softness, prices remain higher by 7.63 per cent year-on-year, and have gained 19.15 per cent over two years and 30.23 per cent over three years, reflecting underlying structural strength.

Soybean Gains Weekly but Remains Below MSP

Soybean prices stood at Rs 5275.69 per quintal, slightly below the MSP of Rs 5328, but recorded a 6.52 per cent weekly increase from Rs 4952.47. On a monthly basis, prices declined 1.60 per cent from Rs 5361.52. Over longer periods, soybean has shown resilience, with prices up 27.32 per cent year-on-year from Rs 4143.55, and rising 17.40 per cent over two years and 5.48 per cent over three years.

Sesamum and Sunflower Reflect Data Gaps but Show Long-Term Volatility

Sesamum prices were not reported for April 26, but stood at Rs 7682.71 a week ago, significantly below its MSP of Rs 9846, and down from Rs 9442.95 a month ago. Historical data indicates a sharp correction from Rs 13371.41 two years ago and Rs 14624.24 three years ago, pointing to sustained volatility.

Similarly, sunflower prices were unavailable for the current week, though earlier data shows Rs 5901.23 a month ago, compared to Rs 4670.56 a year ago and Rs 4178.31 two years ago, indicating a gradual upward trend despite intermittent reporting gaps.

Mixed Momentum Across Oilseeds

The April 26 data reflects diverging price trajectories within the oilseed complex, with groundnut and soybean showing short-term recovery, while rapeseed & mustard faces mild correction. At the same time, several crops continue to trade close to or below MSP levels, highlighting ongoing market pressures.

The broader trend suggests that while long-term price support remains intact across most oilseeds, short-term movements are being shaped by arrivals, demand conditions, and seasonal supply fluctuations.