Lentil Markets Hold Range as Indian Green Gram and Canadian FOB Stay Steady

Indian green gram (moong) markets are consolidating after a modest prior-week rise, with abundant government buffer stocks and steady arrivals capping upside, while mill demand provides a floor. For European buyers of lentil and green gram products, the current setup points to a narrow trading range over the next weeks rather than a pronounced trend move.

India’s green gram complex remains broadly stable, with bold and chamki grades at key hubs like Indore, Jaipur, Akola, Jalgaon and Delhi holding recent gains but failing to extend the rally. Dal mills and papad manufacturers are buying on a hand-to-mouth basis, absorbing lower-grade offers while avoiding aggressive forward coverage. In parallel, Canadian FOB lentil prices in Ottawa and Chinese small green lentils in Beijing show minimal week‑on‑week change, reinforcing a picture of calm physical markets. For importers, this translates into relatively predictable near‑term replacement costs but limited opportunities for bargain buying.

📈 Prices & Market Tone

India’s green gram market has shifted from last week’s uptick into a consolidation phase. Bold-quality moong at Indore is range‑bound, while chamki grades in Jaipur, Jalgaon and Akola are holding steady, reflecting stable domestic demand and ample availability. The earlier weekly advance of roughly $3.24–4.32 per quintal has not developed into a sustained rally as traders turn cautious.

In the global lentil complex, FOB prices converted into EUR (approx. 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR) also underline stability. Canadian red football lentils in Ottawa, as well as Laird and Eston green types, have posted no change between 28 March and 4 April 2026. Chinese small green lentils in Beijing show only marginal easing, particularly in the organic segment.

Product	Origin	Location	Latest Price (EUR/kg, FOB)	1w Change
Lentils dried, Red football	CA	Ottawa	≈ 2.37 EUR	Stable vs 28 Mar
Lentils dried, Laird Green	CA	Ottawa	≈ 1.61 EUR	Stable vs 28 Mar
Lentils dried, Eston Green	CA	Ottawa	≈ 1.52 EUR	Stable vs 28 Mar
Lentils dried, small green (conv.)	CN	Beijing	≈ 1.07 EUR	Slightly lower w/w
Lentils dried, small green (organic)	CN	Beijing	≈ 1.15 EUR	Slightly lower w/w

🌍 Supply & Demand Drivers

India’s supply backdrop for green gram is comfortably balanced. The central government holds its largest pulse buffer stock in moong, providing a potent tool to release inventory if prices attempt to break higher. At the same time, procurement at the Minimum Support Price is under way across several states but still modest relative to total arrivals, which helps keep physical supplies flowing through wholesale markets.

Green gram arrivals at producing mandis are expected to remain steady. Summer sowing is progressing well, with plantings already at about 391,000 hectares by late March 2026, ahead of last year’s pace. This points to a normal seasonal supply build‑up. On the demand side, dal mills are purchasing only as needed and the papad‑making season continues to support offtake for split moong, preventing a deeper price correction despite the headwind from large government stocks.

📊 Fundamentals & External Context

The combination of strong Indian government stockholding and on‑track sowing creates a fundamentally heavy backdrop, limiting upside risk for green gram and, by extension, tempering bullish impulses across parts of the broader lentil and pulse complex. Traders are reluctant to add fresh length when any sharp rally could trigger state releases from the buffer pool. Instead, mills are selectively accumulating only when prices test the lower end of recent ranges.

Outside India, the latest Canadian FOB indications for red and green lentils and Chinese small green lentils suggest that export pipelines are well supplied but not overshooting. The absence of significant week‑on‑week price moves in Ottawa and only fractional adjustments in Beijing hint at a market where logistics and currency fluctuations, rather than fundamentals, are the main potential volatility triggers for European buyers in the very short term.

🌦️ Weather & Crop Outlook

For India, the ongoing summer season plantings of green gram are described as progressing normally, with no major weather disruptions flagged in the latest commentary. The ahead‑of‑last‑year acreage figure reinforces the expectation of adequate new‑crop availability later in the season, further reducing the likelihood of a supply‑driven price spike in the coming weeks.

Given the current stage of the crop cycle and stable field conditions, short‑term weather risks for lentil and green gram pricing appear limited. Market focus is therefore likely to stay on policy decisions around buffer stock management and the pace of procurement at MSP, rather than on weather‑related concerns.

📆 2–4 Week Price Outlook

For European buyers of Indian green gram splits and whole beans, the near‑term outlook is for continued range‑bound pricing. Any downside is likely to be cushioned by steady mill demand and seasonal papad production, while the upside is capped by sizeable government buffer stocks and healthy summer sowing progress. A sharp move in either direction over the next two to four weeks appears unlikely under current conditions.

In parallel, Canadian and Chinese lentil export prices are expected to remain broadly stable, assuming no abrupt changes in freight or currency. Buyers should therefore plan for relatively steady EUR‑denominated replacement costs in April, with only modest basis or freight‑driven fluctuations.

🧭 Trading Recommendations

• Importers / European buyers: Use the current period of stability to secure short‑ to medium‑term coverage rather than waiting for significantly lower levels, as downside in Indian moong is limited by mill demand.
• Processors: Maintain staggered purchasing strategies, buying selectively on minor dips within the established range, given the low probability of an immediate breakout.
• Traders: Focus on range trading strategies around known support and resistance levels in Indian green gram, while monitoring Indian government buffer stock release policies and summer sowing updates as key risk factors.

📉 3‑Day Directional Outlook (EUR Basis)

• Indian green gram exports (indicative to EU): Sideways; narrow range expected as domestic prices consolidate after prior gains.
• Canadian lentils FOB Ottawa (Red, Laird, Eston): Flat in EUR terms; no clear catalyst for near‑term move.
• Chinese small green lentils FOB Beijing: Slightly soft bias but overall stable; minor adjustments more likely from FX or freight than from fundamentals.