Pune: Lemon Prices Surge During Monsoon as Supply Falls; Pickle Makers Feel the Pinch

Pune, 8th September 2026: Contrary to the usual trend of lemons becoming cheaper during the monsoon, prices have surged this year due to a shortage in supply. Wholesale lemon prices at the Market Yard have risen to ₹60-140 per kg, depending on quality, compared with the usual monsoon prices of ₹8-20 per kg.

Traders attribute the shortage to early harvesting by farmers. Fearing poor prices during the monsoon, farmers harvested a large quantity of immature lemons in March and April. As a result, lemons that would normally have reached the market in July and August are now in short supply.

“The supply of lemons this monsoon is nearly half of what we normally see. This shortage has pushed prices up, and there is little possibility of an immediate decline,” said Rohan Jadhav, a lemon trader at the Market Yard.

Retail consumers are also feeling the impact, with lemons currently selling for ₹5-10 per piece, depending on quality.

The Market Yard receives lemons from Pune district as well as Solapur and Ahilyanagar districts. On Sunday (September 6), around 1,000-1,200 bags of lemons arrived at the market, while arrivals fell to 200-300 bags on Monday (September 7). Each bag contains around 18-20 kg of lemons.
Demand is expected to rise further after Shravan and Ganeshotsav, when consumption of non-vegetarian food typically increases. Traders expect the seasonal rise in demand to put additional pressure on prices.

Normally, higher local prices attract supplies from other states. However, with farmers currently receiving relatively good prices in Maharashtra, traders said there is little incentive for suppliers from outside the state to send lemons to Pune.

Pickle makers feel the pinch
The price rise has also affected pickle manufacturers, who traditionally purchase lemons when demand is low. Demand for lemons generally remains subdued from June to August during the monsoon and again from November to January during winter. These periods typically bring lower prices, making them favourable for pickle producers to stock up on raw material.

This year, however, pickle manufacturers are being forced to pay substantially more for lemons, increasing their production costs.
Traders said the shortage is likely to persist in the near term, with prices expected to remain firm unless market arrivals improve significantly.