Due to a decrease in the sowing area in major producing states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during the current season, the coriander production is expected to be lower this year compared to last year. As a result, coriander prices are anticipated to remain strong in the coming days. In Gujarat, the sowing area for coriander has been limited to 1.24 lakh hectares this year, compared to 2.21 lakh hectares last year. In Rajasthan, the sowing area is 48 thousand hectares, while last year it was 54 thousand hectares. Traders believe that the sowing in Rajasthan is only around 55-60% of the expected area. Additionally, sowing in Madhya Pradesh has been reported to be 25-30% lower than last year. The weather conditions are also unfavorable for the crop, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where there has been fog, limiting sunlight for the plants. If this weather persists in the coming week, the crop could suffer damage. According to the weather department, rain is expected in these regions around 10-11 January, which could further lower production estimates. The production of coriander in the country this year is expected to be around 1 crore bags, provided the weather remains favorable. Last year, the production was around 1.50-1.60 crore bags. In 2022, it was 85-90 lakh bags, and in 2021, it was 1.10-1.15 crore bags. This year, the stock is higher compared to last year due to record production. The stock of coriander in producer areas is estimated to be around 40-45 lakh bags, which is significantly higher than last year’s stock of 15-20 lakh bags. In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the stock is estimated to be around 20-25 lakh, 10-12 lakh, and 8-10 lakh bags, respectively. Traders believe that there is no expectation of a price decline in coriander at present. New coriander arrivals in Gujarat’s markets are expected to begin gradually by the end of January, and due to reduced production, the prices of new coriander will likely open higher. In the Gondal market, the first trade of new coriander this week was at ₹360 per kilogram. Due to lower prices in 2023, coriander saw record exports. According to the Spice Board, the export of coriander from April to October 2023 was 76,848.28 tons, significantly higher than the 24,790.62 tons exported during the same period in 2022. The total export of coriander in 2022-23 was 54,481.49 tons, compared to 48,656 tons in 2021-22. Thus, the decline in production and the increasing export figures could drive up prices in the coriander market.