Content Rice prices at Ajah Market softened into the middle of 2026. A 50kg bag of Vitali long grain rice held at N70,000 through the weeks of February 2, February 9 and February 23, then eased to N65,000 by the week of June 1, a fall of 7.1%. The accompanying paint bucket slipped from N7,000 to N6,000 over the same stretch. Short grain imported rice traced a gentler path, moving from N58,000 a bag in the week of January 26 up to N63,000 by March 16, then back to N60,000 by June 1.
My Choice short grain was the picture of stability, holding a 50kg bag at N75,000 through February before easing slightly to N73,000 from March into June, a move of 2.7%. The derica and paint measures of My Choice did not move at all across the period, a sign of a brand priced more on contract than on weekly supply swings.
The week of June 1 also brought the market's first verified captures of premium Basmati, with a 2kg pack of Aani Golden Sella at N11,500 and a 5kg pack at N21,000. These are first captures rather than movements, and they show Ajah carrying a premium import tier alongside its everyday bags.
The easing in everyday rice fits the national supply story. BusinessDay reported that the price of a ton of paddy had slumped 51% from its 2025 peak under a wave of cheap imports and smuggling, helped by a cut in the rice import duty to 47.5% from 70%. The USDA projected the national rice planting area would shrink 7% in the coming season as low prices discourage farmers. A market where bags are drifting lower through the spring is consistent with that flood of cheaper grain.
Live readings sit on the Ajah Market real-time prices page, and the longer arc can be followed on the grain price index.