In the past 10 days, maize prices have surged by ₹100 to ₹150, primarily driven by strong domestic demand and tight supply. On Tuesday, prices remained stable to strong across key markets, with Gulabbagh mandi seeing an increase of ₹25, reaching ₹2,000 per quintal. Prices ranged from ₹1,640 in Vijayawada to ₹2,200 in Punjab, reflecting a nationwide trend of high demand. The limited arrival of maize from Bihar, where the new crop is delayed by about a week, continues to fuel the supply gap, keeping prices elevated. While export demand, particularly from Bangladesh, has further reduced domestic stocks, the primary factor impacting the maize market is the slow arrival of the new crop. Bihar’s late harvest has created an expected supply shortage, exacerbated by low stocks held by buyers who anticipated a larger supply in March. In addition, the rising crude oil prices due to tensions between the US and Iran have provided a further boost to maize prices, with increasing ethanol demand further tightening the supply. The maize market’s tight supply has been further affected by the lack of significant selling pressure at lower levels, with active buyers particularly in Punjab, where prices are now at ₹2,200 per quintal. The situation is expected to remain tense until mid-April when more maize from the new crop becomes available. Historically, the maize market has been sensitive to factors such as domestic production cycles and global demand shifts. With exports to Bangladesh diverting a large portion of available stock and the delayed crop from Bihar, the demand-supply imbalance is likely to continue. Should geopolitical tensions persist in the Middle East, maize prices may remain elevated well into the upcoming harvest season.