Sharp Drop in Indian Chana Imports Keeps Chickpea Market Firm

Indian chickpea (chana) imports have plunged more than 45% year-on-year in January–July, tightening domestic availability and underpinning prices in both chana and besan. With India central to global chickpea trade, this contraction in imports is reinforcing firm to slightly bullish sentiment for Kabuli origins such as India and Mexico. Domestic markets in India are reacting to structurally tighter supplies, with wholesale Kabuli prices holding in an elevated range while import flows lag last year. Export offers from Mexico remain comparatively firm, reflecting steady international demand and limited comfort on replacement. Weather risks around India’s upcoming rabi season and ongoing strength in pulse prices more broadly keep downside limited near term.

Prices

FOB New Delhi quotations for Indian Kabuli chickpeas remain firm, with larger calibers at a premium. Indicative levels include Chickpeas dried count 42-44, 12 mm at 0.97 EUR/kg FOB New Delhi and 0.96 EUR/kg FOB Rajkot, while mid-range sizes such as 44-46, 11 mm are quoted around 0.94 EUR/kg FOB New Delhi. Smaller 8–9 mm sizes trade near 0.85–0.90 EUR/kg FOB New Delhi.

Mexican Kabuli prices are higher than Indian equivalents for similar sizes: Chickpeas dried count 42-44, 12 mm stand at 1.21 EUR/kg FOB Mexico City, with smaller 75-80 count, 8 mm around 0.85 EUR/kg FOB Mexico City. Recent market updates indicate Indian domestic Kabuli mandi prices are steady to firm at elevated levels, suggesting end-user demand remains resilient despite earlier price gains.

Supply & Demand

From January to July this year, Indian chana imports fell sharply from about 1.17 million tonnes to roughly 641,564 tonnes, a decline of more than 45%. This adjustment is commercially significant: India’s role as the largest chickpea consumer and key importer means such a drop materially tightens domestic balance sheets for both chana and besan.

Recent trade data confirm that lower chana arrivals are a main drag on India’s overall pulse imports, even as other pulses such as tur and masoor show stronger import flows. The result is a more domestically driven market in India, with millers and besan manufacturers increasingly reliant on local crop and stocks. Internationally, firmer replacement costs from origins like Mexico and Australia, alongside disruptions in Russian Kabuli exports, add to the tight tone in global chickpea availability.

Fundamentals & Weather

The steep decline in Indian chana imports points to relatively tight domestic fundamentals and policy or pricing signals discouraging foreign purchases. With pulse prices generally elevated and other imported pulses filling part of the protein gap, chana-specific tightness is feeding through to besan processors and snack manufacturers, who face structurally higher raw material costs than a year ago.

Weather remains a key wildcard for the upcoming rabi chickpea crop. India’s 2026 monsoon season has so far been characterized by below-normal rainfall, raising concerns over soil moisture and reservoir levels ahead of sowing, even if some late-season surges bring localized relief. Any further monsoon shortfall into late September would heighten yield risk for the next chickpea harvest and could lock in a tighter balance into 2027.

Outlook & Trading Ideas

With domestic Indian stocks not being backfilled by imports at last year’s pace and no clear sign of a large, imminent supply shock from other origins, the near-term price bias for chickpeas remains firm. Recent mandi benchmarks across India show Kabuli prices holding in the upper range rather than correcting, consistent with a market that is tight but not yet in panic territory.

Trading outlook (next 4–6 weeks)

• Buyers with Q4–Q1 coverage needs should consider layering in volumes on any minor dips, particularly for mid-size Kabuli from India, given tight imports and uncertain rabi weather.
• Exporters in Mexico and India may find continued support for offers at or slightly above current levels, especially for larger calibers, as global buyers diversify away from origins facing production or logistics issues.
• Besan and snack manufacturers should hedge a portion of forward chana requirements, as downside potential appears limited without a clear improvement in India’s moisture outlook or a policy shift boosting imports.

3-day directional view (key chickpea hubs)

• India (FOB New Delhi / Rajkot Kabuli): Bias steady to slightly firmer on tight domestic balance and firm mandi benchmarks; no major correction expected in the next three trading days.
• Mexico (FOB Mexico City Kabuli): Prices likely to remain firm, tracking steady international demand and stronger relative pricing versus Indian origins.
• Global market sentiment: Overall tone remains moderately bullish, with downside capped by India’s import slump and weather uncertainty for the next rabi crop.