Indian Pigeon Peas Edge Higher, But Imports Keep a Lid on Prices

Indian pigeon pea prices are nudging higher on restocking demand from dal mills, but a structural discount to the Minimum Support Price and steady imports from Myanmar and Africa are capping the upside. For European buyers, India remains the key price reference, with any disruption in Myanmar flows likely to have an outsized impact on both whole and split pigeon pea products.

After a quiet period, mills have cautiously returned to the market at lower price levels, lifting spot values in major Indian centres and for some imported African origins. However, domestic quotes are still stuck below the government’s MSP, while the extension of India’s free import policy for tur to March 2027 signals that policymakers are prioritising consumer price stability over a rapid rebound in farmgate prices. In Europe, dried green and marrowfat pea prices are stable in London, with Ukrainian green and yellow peas also flat, underlining a broadly well-supplied pea complex.

📈 Prices

Restocking by dal mills pushed Indian pigeon pea (arhar/tur) modestly higher mid-week across key trading hubs. In Delhi, Lemon arhar gained about EUR 0.48 per quintal to roughly EUR 74.5–74.8 per quintal, while Mumbai saw a smaller increase of around EUR 0.24 per quintal to about EUR 72.6–72.8 per quintal (approximate EUR conversions from USD). At producing markets such as Katni, Chhindwara, Indore, Solapur and Kanpur, prices also ticked up, though most other producer centres held steady.

On the import side, African-origin pigeon pea in Mumbai firmed, with Sudan-origin varieties rising roughly EUR 0.48 per quintal to around EUR 64.2 per quintal, and Gajri pigeon pea gaining about EUR 0.73 per quintal to approximately EUR 59.7–60.0 per quintal. White pigeon pea remained stable near EUR 60.4–60.9 per quintal, while Matwara-origin stock was unavailable. At Nhava Sheva, Sudan-origin cargoes for May–June shipment held at around EUR 80.0 per tonne (CIF), and Tanzania’s Arusha variety stayed near EUR 69.5 per tonne (CIF), reinforcing a picture of firm but not tightening import values.

The government’s Minimum Support Price for pigeon pea, at roughly EUR 76.6 per quintal, remains above current producer-market levels, underlining the ongoing price discount despite recent gains. Parallel to this, European dried pea indications are steady: in London, dried green peas are around EUR 1.02/kg FOB and marrowfat peas at about EUR 1.33/kg FOB, while in Odesa, green peas hover near EUR 0.35/kg FCA and yellow peas at about EUR 0.27/kg FCA, all unchanged over recent weeks.

Market / Product	Specification	Price (EUR)	Trend (last week)
Delhi pigeon pea (Lemon)	Domestic, spot	~74.5–74.8 EUR/qtl	Firmed slightly
Mumbai pigeon pea (Lemon)	Domestic, spot	~72.6–72.8 EUR/qtl	Firmed slightly
Mumbai Sudan-origin pigeon pea	Imported, spot	~64.2 EUR/qtl	Firmed slightly
India MSP for pigeon pea	Govt. support price	~76.6 EUR/qtl	Unchanged
UK dried peas green	FOB London	1.02 EUR/kg	Stable
UK dried peas marrowfat	FOB London	1.33 EUR/kg	Stable
Ukraine dried peas green	FCA Odesa	0.35 EUR/kg	Stable
Ukraine dried peas yellow	FCA Odesa	0.27 EUR/kg	Stable

🌍 Supply & Demand

The Indian pigeon pea balance remains comfortable. Domestic arrivals are steady and are being supplemented by a continuous stream of imports from Myanmar and East Africa, including Sudan and Tanzania. A government-to-government framework ensures that Myanmar can ship up to 100,000 tonnes of pigeon pea annually to India through the 2025–2026 financial year, underpinning a reliable inflow of raw material.

On the policy side, New Delhi has extended the free import regime for tur (pigeon pea) from its previous deadline of March 31, 2026 to March 31, 2027. This decision effectively locks in a liberal import environment for another year, limiting the scope for domestic prices to move substantially above global benchmarks. Meanwhile, government procurement at the MSP continues in several Indian states but is modest relative to total arrivals, so it provides a floor rather than a strong bullish catalyst.

Internationally, Myanmar’s pigeon pea exports remain heavily India-focused, with India accounting for the overwhelming majority of shipments. At the same time, structural demand growth for pigeon pea and other pulses is evident in Europe, where Germany is emerging as a processing and consumption hub for plant-based protein ingredients. In Europe’s feed and food pea complex (green, yellow and marrowfat peas), stable prices and ample Black Sea and UK supplies suggest no immediate scarcity, though any disruption in Indian or Myanmar flows could tighten the market for pigeon-pea-specific products.

📊 Fundamentals & Weather

Fundamentals for pigeon pea currently tilt slightly bearish to neutral. The key factors are: (1) domestic Indian prices still below MSP, signalling that supply exceeds comfortable demand; (2) ongoing import flows from Myanmar and Africa under a supportive policy framework; and (3) only cautious stock-building by mills, which are using the current discount to restock rather than build speculative positions. Recent market commentary highlights that India’s tur market is likely to consolidate near current levels in the short term, absent a supply shock.

Weather is not an immediate driver for prices this week, as major pigeon pea crops in India and East Africa are past critical yield-defining stages. However, looking ahead to the next Indian kharif planting cycle, the monsoon outlook will be crucial. Any sign of erratic or deficient rainfall in key pigeon pea belts could quickly shift sentiment, prompting stronger government procurement and higher risk premiums in forward prices. For now, the market is more sensitive to policy and trade flows than to day-to-day weather changes.

📆 Short-Term Outlook & Trading Strategy

Over the next 2–4 weeks, Indian pigeon pea prices are expected to remain range-bound with a mild upward bias, driven by ongoing mill restocking but capped by robust import availability and the free-import policy extension. A meaningful rally would likely require one of two triggers: a weather-related hit to the upcoming crop or a policy/ logistical disruption in Myanmar or African supply corridors. In their absence, domestic prices will probably continue to trade at a discount to MSP, with occasional short-covering rallies quickly met by importer selling.

• Dal mills / Indian buyers: Use current sub-MSP levels and modest firmness to secure near-term coverage, but avoid aggressive forward buying given the open import window to March 2027.
• European buyers of pigeon pea and split dal: Monitor Myanmar export flows and Indian policy closely; consider locking in a portion of Q3–Q4 needs while CIF values from Africa and Myanmar remain broadly stable.
• Producers in India and East Africa: Be cautious about holding out for a sharp near-term rally; incremental gains are possible, but the policy and import backdrop argues for disciplined selling into strength.
• Traders in green/yellow peas (EU/Black Sea): With EUR-denominated prices stable and pigeon pea markets capped, cross-commodity substitution risk is limited; maintain balanced positions and watch for any demand shift toward alternative pulses.

📍 3-Day Price Direction Snapshot (EUR)

• India (Delhi, Mumbai pigeon pea): Slightly firmer bias as mill restocking continues, but moves likely limited to incremental gains within the current range.
• Imported African & Myanmar pigeon pea into India: Mostly stable with a mild firm tone; CIF values expected to track Indian domestic levels and freight, with no sharp moves anticipated.
• European dried peas (UK, Ukraine): Flat to narrowly steady; no significant changes expected in London FOB or Odesa FCA indications over the next three days.