Pulses import double to record 66.33 lakh tonnes during 2024

India’s pulses imports almost doubled to an estimated record 66.33 lakh tonnes during the 2024 calendar year. This followed the government move to make imports duty-free to boost supplies and keep prices under check on shortfall in domestic output during the year.

This surge in imports was led by an increase in shipments of yellow peas, estimated at 29.68 lakh tonnes (lt). The Government allowed duty-free imports of yellow pea in December 2023 following an anticipated shortfall in chana production last year. The yellow pea import window, which is set to close on February 28, 2025, was extended a few times during 2024.

However, imports of tur and urad were estimated at an all-time high of 12.33 lt and 7.65 lt, respectively. Though the import of masur (lentils) declined during 2024 compared with 2023 Indian importers still purchased a sizeable quantity exceeding 10.93 lt. India’s lentil imports touched a record 16.81 lt during 2023. The import of chana also saw a four-fold increase to over 5.74 lt during 2024 from 1.31 lt a year ago. “We have imported a record quantity of pulses during calendar year 2024. Our import dependency in pulses went up during the year to meet the shortfall in domestic production,” said Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India. The previous high in pulses imports during a calendar year was in 2017, when India shipped in 62.74 lt including a record 31.03 tonnes of yellow pea. Further, Chauhan said imported pulses now account for about a fourth of India’s consumption estimated at 270 lt. “India imported 24.57 per cent of its total pulses consumption during 2024. The imported quantity is equivalent to about four months consumption during the year,” he said.

India’s pulses production, per the Government estimates, which rose from 163.23 lt in 2015-17 to 273.02 lt during 2021-22 has since declined to 242.46 lt in 2023-24 with the erratic climate impacting the output.

Even in the kharif 2024-25 season, the production is estimated to be marginally lower at 69.54 lt from 69.74 lt in the previous season. To augment the supplies, the government has already extended the free import window for tur till March 21, 2026.