A leading commission agent at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) (Vashi) said that at present chillies of Guntur variety are hovering in the range of Rs 2700 to Rs 3400 per quintal in the mandies of Andhra Pradesh. While in Navi Mumbai Wholesale Market at Guntur, the average quality is quoted in the range of Rs 3000 to Rs 3100 per quintal, medium variety at Rs 3,500 to Rs 4000 per quintal and stock from cold storage are sold for Rs 4200 to Rs 4500 per quintal.

As per one estimate there are about 40 to 45 lakh bags (each bag containing 35 to 40 kg of chillies) are stocked in the 30-odd cold storage units in the Guntur.

Andhra Pradesh reeling under severe heat wave for the past few weeks, had kept its major Guntur mandies closed officially for about a fortnight's time. The closed mandies are opened from 1stJune.

According to sources of the Mudi Bazar Kariana Merchants Association (New Bombay), the farmers in Andhra Pradesh are still holding these produce in the cold storage units, hoping for a better price in the future.

However with the opening of Guntur mandy, the crop in the cold storage would be brought out. A kind of selling pressure will be observed by the first week of July and supply will exceed demand. As a result of these chillies prices will stalrt declining opined trade sources.

Daily arrivals of chillies are also expected to increase substantially.At present arrivals is poor due to lack of buying support. Average daily arrivals at APMC market is about three truck load from Andhra Pradesh and two truckload from Karnatak.

Byadgi variety from Karnatak were quoted in range of Rs 3500 to Rs 4000 for average quality while Rs.4500 to Rs 5000 per quintal for good quality. In Guntur prices were eremained steady due to closure of mandy as well as good export trade. As per rough estimates, so farabout 15000 tonnes of chillies have been exported to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Gulf countries and Taiwan.

Out of these about 10,000 tonnes of chillies has been exported to Sri Lank. This year Pakistan has also emerged as good export destination and bulk of exports is taking place through Amratsar border. According to market sources, the prices of chillies would have slumped to Rs 2000 per quintal, if there had been no exports.