Jeera concluded the trading session with a 1% increase, reaching Rs. 26,325, bolstered by apprehensions regarding escalating export demand and the constriction of both domestic and global supplies. Limited availability of Syrian cumin, coupled with weather-related uncertainties associated with the El Niño phenomenon, has bolstered expectations for reduced production and reinforced Indian export demand. Gujarat has officially designated Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, and Kutch as districts facing scarcity, which has sparked apprehensions regarding water supply and agricultural productivity. Uncertainty regarding rainfall and soil moisture in critical cumin-producing areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat may impact sowing decisions for the forthcoming season.
However, the potential for upside was constrained by profit booking, as farmers engaged in selling to generate cash flow in anticipation of the new season, alongside expectations of stable-to-higher sowing acreage in Saurashtra and western Rajasthan. Spot activity at Unjha exhibited a lack of vigour, as processors and millers limited their acquisitions to immediate necessities in the context of high price levels. Industry estimates suggest that India’s cumin production may decrease to 90-92 lakh bags this season, down from 1.10 crore bags in the previous year. Production in Gujarat is projected to be between 42-45 lakh bags, while Rajasthan’s output is anticipated to range from 48-50 lakh bags. Internationally, China’s cumin production is projected to be between 70,000 and 80,000 tonnes as a result of unfavourable weather conditions.
In contrast, Syria and Turkey are anticipated to yield approximately 9,000 to 10,000 tonnes and 10,000 to 11,000 tonnes, respectively. Meanwhile, India’s cumin exports experienced a decline of 19.7% year-on-year, totalling 11,667 tonnes in August 2026, in contrast to 14,532 tonnes recorded in the previous year. Cumulative exports during April-August decreased to 65,128 tonnes from 87,558 tonnes, while total exports for the period September 2025-August 2026 experienced a decline of 17.4%, totalling 174,479 tonnes. Shipments to the USA, Singapore, and Mexico exhibited an improvement in August, while exports to the UAE and Bangladesh experienced a significant decline. In Unjha, spot prices declined by 0.12% to Rs. 26,268.05.
Technically, the market is experiencing short covering, evidenced by a 4.24% decline in open interest to 6,915 contracts, alongside a price increase of Rs. 260, which suggests the covering of existing short positions. Jeera is presently encountering support at Rs. 26,080, beneath which prices may test Rs. 25,830. On the upside, resistance is positioned at Rs. 26,550, and a sustained movement above this threshold could lead to further gains toward Rs. 26,770.
