Import Pressure Keeps Pigeon Pea Market Soft but Range-Bound

Indian pigeon pea (tur) markets are easing for a second session as softer Burmese offers and steady African supply pressure domestic benchmarks, while limited state procurement leaves trade to the open market. Despite the current weakness, tight local arrivals and cautious stockist selling are likely to cushion the downside, pointing to a soft but largely range‑bound outlook into June. Domestic and imported tur are moving lower in India’s key hubs as mills buy only against confirmed dal orders and seasonal consumption is expected to slow from mid‑June. Weakness is led by Burma lemon tur, which is pulling down spot values in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, while Sudan and Mozambique offers remain broadly steady to slightly firmer. For European pulse buyers, this translates into competitive third‑quarter import options in pigeon peas, supplemented by broadly stable dried pea quotations in Europe and the Black Sea region.

Prices & Market Tone

Burma-origin lemon tur has slipped for two straight sessions, dragging Indian benchmarks lower. Evening trade now values lemon tur around EUR 75–77 per 100 kg equivalent in Chennai and Mumbai, with Delhi trading marginally higher near EUR 78 per 100 kg. Sudan tur in physical trade is roughly steady around EUR 67–69 per 100 kg, gajri tur near EUR 61–62, and white tur about EUR 62–63 per 100 kg, indicating a mild but broad-based softening.

Parallel to this, European dried pea indications remain flat. In London, green dried peas are steady at about EUR 1.02/kg FOB, with marrowfat peas at around EUR 1.33/kg FOB. From Odesa, green peas (98% purity) are offered near EUR 0.33/kg FCA and yellow peas at roughly EUR 0.26/kg FCA, levels that have hardly moved in recent weeks, underscoring a calm pricing environment for non-tur peas in Europe.

Supply & Demand Dynamics

Imports are clearly setting the tone in pigeon peas. India brought in about 1.48 million tonnes of tur in FY 2025‑26, up 21% from 1.22 million tonnes a year earlier, amplifying the influence of Burmese and African origin. Container offers from Mozambique for white tur and gajri tur are steady, while Sudan tur offers have firmed slightly, ensuring a continuous import pipeline into the subcontinent.

On the domestic side, arrivals of desi tur from key producing states have slowed compared with earlier in the season, but farmers and stockists are not under pressure to liquidate aggressively. Government procurement at the raised Minimum Support Price of roughly EUR 81 per 100 kg remains negligible, so market prices are being set by trade flows rather than state buying. Mills are purchasing only against firm dal demand, which is expected to taper seasonally from mid‑June, further capping any near‑term upside.

Fundamentals & External Drivers

Burmese producer prices have softened for two days in a row, and this weakness is transmitting quickly into Indian spot markets given India’s import dependence. At the same time, steady African shipments from Mozambique and Sudan are limiting any supply‑side tightening. The combination of higher year‑on‑year imports, weak mill buying and limited government absorption is reinforcing a mild bearish bias.

For the broader pea complex, stable European and Black Sea dried pea prices indicate comfortable regional availability and subdued immediate demand risks. With green and yellow pea quotes in both the UK and Ukraine essentially flat over recent weeks, cross‑commodity substitution into and out of pigeon pea is more likely to be driven by relative currency and freight moves rather than sharp price breaks in other pea categories.

Short-Term Outlook (2–4 Weeks)

The base case for pigeon peas is a soft-to-range-bound market. Downside risk is cushioned by slower Indian arrivals and the reluctance of stockists to sell aggressively at current levels, while the upside is capped by ongoing flows from Burma and Africa and a seasonal tapering in arhar dal consumption from mid‑June. Absent a weather shock or policy change, prices are likely to oscillate within recent ranges rather than trend sharply.

For European and Black Sea dried peas, the near‑term outlook remains broadly stable. With no major new crop or logistics shocks currently priced in and offers unchanged in recent updates, trading is expected to stay order‑driven, with basis adjustments more likely than large outright price moves. Any strengthening of import competition from Indian or African origins would primarily be felt in the low‑grade and feed segments.

Trading Outlook & Recommendations

• Importers into India / South Asia: Use current softness in Burma lemon tur to secure nearby to Q3 coverage, but avoid overbuying given expectations of seasonally weaker dal demand.
• Stockists in India: With negligible MSP procurement and firm import flows, prioritize gradual, price‑responsive selling rather than large disposals; current fundamentals argue for patience but not for aggressive accumulation.
• European pulse buyers: Take advantage of competitive Indian tur and steady African offers for Q3 shipment, while maintaining a core position in stable green and yellow peas from the UK and Ukraine for diversification.
• Producers/exporters of dried peas (EU/Black Sea): With flat prices and calm demand, focus on securing logistics and currency hedges; use any short‑term upticks in freight or FX as opportunities to lock in margins.

3‑Day Directional View

• Indian pigeon peas (tur) – spot hubs: Slight downward to sideways bias as imported offers weigh and mill demand stays cautious.
• UK dried peas (green, marrowfat) – FOB London: Sideways, with quotes expected to remain near current EUR levels.
• Black Sea dried peas (green, yellow) – FCA Odesa: Sideways, with any moves likely confined to minor basis adjustments linked to freight and currency.