Chennai Vegetable Prices Surge Amid Summer Heat; Supply Drops at Koyambedu Market
Vegetable prices in Chennai have risen sharply amid intense summer heat, with consumers facing higher costs across retail markets. The price hike is mainly driven by reduced supply at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market, one of the city’s largest trading hubs.
Traders say that while price increases are common during summer, a significant drop in crop yield this year has led to a major supply shortage. Daily arrivals have fallen drastically from around 7,000 tonnes in April 2025 to 3,500–4,000 tonnes as of April 13, 2026, pushing prices upward.
SS Muthukumaran, president of the Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, stated that the sharp decline in supply has caused prices to rise rapidly and may continue to drive further increases in the coming days.
Key Vegetable Price Changes
Tomato: ₹8–₹15 ➝ ₹18–₹30 per kg
Beans: Up to ₹80 per kg
Ooty Carrot: ₹50 per kg
Drumstick: ₹10 ➝ ₹25 per kg
Lemon: ₹160 ➝ ₹180 per kg
Other vegetables like cauliflower and coriander leaves have also recorded moderate price hikes.
