Anticipated Surge in Lentil Imports to India
India is poised to witness a substantial increase in Lentil (Masur Dal) imports this fiscal year, driven by heightened consumption and a decline in the production of other critical pulses like Pigeon Pea (Tur Dal), Green Gram (Moong Dal) and Black Gram (Urad Dal) attributed to erratic weather conditions. Based on the prevailing import patterns, experts estimate that India’s lentil purchases will surge by over a million tonnes during this financial year, surpassing the previous year’s 0.85 million tonnes.
Bimal Kothari, Chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the apex trade body, remarked, “Masur imports from April until now have already exceeded half a million tonnes, with an additional 1.5-2 million tonnes in the pipeline. We anticipate that Masur imports will cross the one-million-tonne mark during this fiscal year.”
In the 2022-23 period, India’s lentil production amounted to over 1.58 million tonnes, according to the third advance estimates released in May, which is higher than the previous year’s 1.27 million tonnes. Consequently, lentil imports, which peaked at 1.11 million tonnes in 2020-21, dipped to 0.66 million tonnes during 2021-22 but are expected to rebound.
Kothari reassured that “Masur prices in the market are stable, hovering around $0.74-0.75 per kg, close to the Minimum Support Price (MSP), with a consistent supply.” Furthermore, the removal of retaliatory customs tariffs on imports from the United States may expand India’s sourcing options for lentils. India predominantly imports lentils from Canada and Australia.
Lentil Imports and Price Trends
Canada’s lentil production for the current year decreased slightly to 1.2 million tonnes, while Australia, where the harvest is scheduled to commence in November, is projected to yield 1.3 million tonnes.
Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India emphasized that the removal of tariffs on US lentils could benefit Indian imports, especially considering the increasing consumption of other pulse varieties due to the decline in production of key pulses like tur, moong, and urad. The US produces approximately 2.5 million tonnes of lentils, with around 60 percent being green lentils. Apart from India, Türkiye is a significant buyer of US red lentils.
Recent modal prices of Masur in the producing regions of Uttar Pradesh have ranged from approximately $0.79 to $0.95 per kg, while in Madhya Pradesh, they have varied from around $0.68 to $0.83 per kg over the past few days. Additionally, the retail prices of Masur Dal in Uttar Pradesh were approximately $1.24 per kilogram, while in Madhya Pradesh, they stood at about $1.22 per kilogram, according to data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Conclusion
India is experiencing a significant surge in lentil (Masur) imports due to increased consumption and a decline in the production of essential pulses caused by unpredictable weather patterns. The removal of retaliatory customs tariffs on US imports may further diversify India’s lentil sourcing options. While lentil prices remain stable, this trend underscores the resilience of India’s pulse market and its adaptability to global changes in supply and demand.