Lemon Prices Spike in Pune; Good-Quality Ones Cost Rs 25 For Two
Pune, 19th September 2026: Contrary to the usual monsoon trend, lemon prices have hit a record high this year, with falling arrivals at the Pune Market Yard pushing wholesale prices to Rs 2,500-Rs 2,600 for a 20kg sack.
After adding transportation, loading and unloading charges and wastage, retailers say the same sack costs them Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000. As a result, lemons are selling for Rs 10 a piece, while better-quality lemons are fetching Rs 25 for two in the retail market.
Traders expect the price rise to continue until Diwali, with supplies unlikely to improve significantly in the near term.
During the monsoon, lemons typically sell for around Rs 10-Rs 15 per kg. This year, however, prices have surged despite it being the rainy season.
Traders said strong prices during summer prompted farmers to harvest even smaller lemons. Subsequently, lower rainfall affected production, leaving fewer lemons on the trees and reducing supplies to the market.
The Pune Market Yard receives lemons mainly from Rasin, Solapur and Shrigonda. Between June and September, daily arrivals usually range between 2,000 and 3,000 sacks. This year, arrivals have dropped to just 1,000-1,200 sacks a day.
At the same time, demand from hotels and retail markets has increased, pushing prices up steadily over the past fortnight.
