Imported Lentils Hold Masoor Prices in Check Despite Festival Demand

Imported lentils are keeping a firm lid on masoor prices even as India enters the key festival demand window. Strong Canadian and Australian arrivals, combined with competitive port offers, mean only limited upside is visible for now. Short term, the lentil market remains demand-supportive but supply-driven. Domestic masoor in Delhi is quoted around ₹6,875–6,900/quintal, yet a majority of mills are running imported Canadian and Australian origin, underscoring the shift in India’s consumption mix. With India poised to remain the world’s largest lentil buyer and fresh Northern Hemisphere supplies arriving, the balance of risks for prices leans sideways to mildly softer unless weather or policy shocks emerge.

Prices

Masoor prices in India are described as steady to slightly weaker, with Delhi domestic masoor around ₹6,875–6,900/quintal, even as festival demand picks up. Imported Canadian masoor at ports remains competitive versus local supplies, pressuring upside.

In Canada, indicative FOB quotations in EUR show modest recent firming in green lentils: Laird Green at EUR 1.26 FOB Ottawa and Eston Green at EUR 1.22 FOB Ottawa as of 3 October 2026, both up from the previous quotations. By contrast, Canadian red “football” lentils last showed at EUR 2.15 FOB Ottawa, slightly softer than late September levels. Chinese small green lentils have eased, with conventional at EUR 0.86 and organic at EUR 0.92 FOB Beijing on 1 October 2026.

Supply & Demand

According to market reports, 65–70% of Indian dal mills are currently processing imported masoor, highlighting the dominance of Canadian and Australian origin in meeting domestic demand. This aligns with trade data showing India remains the world’s largest lentil buyer and may import close to 1.6 million tonnes in 2026/27, with Canada and Australia as key suppliers.

Recent Indian mandi data indicate median masoor prices around ₹6,300–6,500/quintal in early October, slightly below the official Minimum Support Price of ₹7,000/quintal, signalling comfortable domestic availability and limited immediate need for aggressive procurement. Festival-season consumption is firm, but the combination of sizeable Canadian and Australian crops and steady import flows is keeping the physical pipeline well supplied.

Fundamentals & Weather

The underlying fundamental picture is moderately bearish. The newspaper assessment notes that larger Canadian and Australian lentil crops are expected this season, and Canadian shipments to India in the early marketing months have already been substantial. With imported masoor capturing a rising share of India’s dal milling, domestic producers face a challenging environment to push prices significantly above current levels.

Weather-wise, there are currently no major weather threats reported for key Canadian and Australian lentil belts that would materially tighten short-term exportable supply. Trade flows also remain robust: Australia’s recent export statistics confirm strong lentil dispatches to India and neighbouring South Asian markets, complementing Canadian volume.

Outlook & Trading Recommendations

The near-term outlook points to a rangebound-to-slightly-soft bias for masoor in India. Festival demand should underpin floors around current mandi levels, but the combination of competitive port offers and ample Canadian and Australian crops suggests limited scope for a sustained rally, in line with the domestic newspaper view.

• Importers / Millers: Use current price dips to build nearby coverage, but avoid overbuying far forward given comfortable global supply and the risk of post-festival demand easing.
• Producers in India: Consider staggering sales around the festival window rather than holding for a sharp upside; monitor MSP operations and any policy changes that could support local prices.
• Exporters (Canada, Australia, China): Maintain competitive offers into India while basis levels are still attractive; watch freight and currency, but expect volumes to remain solid as India continues to rely heavily on imports.

3‑Day Price Indication

• India (masoor, wholesale): Sideways to slightly soft around current Delhi and national mandi levels as festival demand meets strong imported supply.
• Canada (FOB Ottawa, greens and reds): Slightly firm tone in greens after recent uptick in EUR prices; reds stable to mildly easier.
• China (FOB Beijing, small green): Mild downside bias after recent EUR price declines, with competition from Canadian and Australian origins.