Although both domestic and export demand for rice is currently not favorable, causing the market to slow down gradually, rice mills and packing manufacturers claim that the production cost of rice has increased this season. As a result, the price of 1401 rice, which was ₹6900 per quintal, has now dropped to ₹6200-6300 per quintal. This price is considered to be "free," and there is potential for considerable profit in the future. This is why, despite weak demand, 1509 rice is still not available for less than ₹5600-5700 per quintal. The supply of 1121 and 1718 paddy has been lower this season, but it is mainly due to a lack of demand. Therefore, there is no significant downturn in the rice market. Currently, the arrival of fine paddy from the Kharif season has increased in Haryana and Punjab over the past two to three days, causing prices to dip slightly. However, the expected increase in paddy arrivals is not happening as anticipated, resulting in higher milling costs for rice mills. This indicates that fine rice prices may rise in the near future. Two months ago, the Minimum Export Price (MEP) on Basmati rice was removed, which has led to better support for exports. In Haryana, the price of 1509 paddy has dropped to ₹3000-3050 per quintal in the last two days, while in Punjab, the price is between ₹3050-3100 per quintal. Narela Rai and Najafgarh markets are also seeing a paddy arrival of about two lakh bags. Despite the pressure from Kharif season paddy, the high prices of rice in the international market suggest that the prices could decline further. For rice mills and rice traders, the current stock at existing prices may prove to be profitable.