Lemon Prices Double in Nellore Belt as Gudur Market Sees Rates Hit ₹200 per Kg

Lemon prices have surged sharply across the Nellore belt in Andhra Pradesh, with retail and wholesale rates nearly doubling to around ₹200 per kilogram. The steep price hike has been centered around the Gudur wholesale market, recognized as one of Asia’s largest trading hubs for lemons, where arrivals have dropped sharply in recent weeks.

The dramatic increase has been triggered by a combination of severe local weather and seasonal consumption spikes. Scorching heatwaves severely affected orchards across the region, reducing flowering and causing a sharp drop in overall crop yields. At the same time, the arrival of the auspicious month of Shravan has driven up consumer demand for temple rituals, religious ceremonies, and daily household use, creating a severe supply-demand mismatch in the market.

With wholesale arrivals remaining scarce, the impact is being felt heavily by retail consumers and small food vendors, who are now paying steep prices for single lemons. Traders in the region anticipate that lemon prices are likely to remain elevated until the festival peak eases and fresh harvests begin reaching the wholesale yards.