India’s pulses imports in the first six months of calendar 2026 slipped 1.46% year-on-year to 31.80 lakh tonnes, from 32.27 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of 2025, with lower chana (chickpea) and urad (black matpe) purchases offsetting higher arrivals of tur (pigeon peas), masoor (lentils) and yellow peas, according to a market update by the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), which quoted DGCIS figures.
Total imports edge lower on mixed crop performance
The overall decline was modest, but the composition shifted markedly. The IPGA update, quoting DGCIS data, reported tur imports up 43.34% at over 5.05 lakh tonnes during January–June 2026. Masoor (lentil) imports jumped 51.58% to 9.63 lakh tonnes, from 6.35 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Yellow pea imports climbed 17% over the period. On the downside, chana imports fell more than 45%, while urad imports contracted 19%.
| Pulse (Jan–Jun 2026) | Import volume | YoY change |
|---|---|---|
| Total pulses | 31.80 lakh tonnes | -1.46% |
| Tur (pigeon peas) | Over 5.05 lakh tonnes | +43.34% |
| Masoor (lentils) | 9.63 lakh tonnes | +51.58% |
| Urad (black matpe) | — | -19% |
| Chana (chickpea) | — | Down over 45% |
| Yellow peas | — | +17% |
Volume figures for urad, chana and yellow peas were not disclosed in the update.
Tur surge led by African suppliers
Bulk of the tur supplies came from African producers such as Mozambique, Tanzania and Sudan, among others, according to the IPGA update. Mozambique was the largest supplier during January–June 2026, as the table below shows.
| Origin | Tur shipments, Jan–Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Mozambique | Over 1.83 lakh tonnes |
| Myanmar | Over 1.23 lakh tonnes |
| Tanzania | Over 1.01 lakh tonnes |
| Sudan | Around 49,049 tonnes |
Masoor and yellow peas climb on Canadian, Australian supplies
Masoor imports rose 51.58% to 9.63 lakh tonnes in the first half, from 6.35 lakh tonnes a year ago. The supplier mix was:
- Canada: over 5.10 lakh tonnes (largest)
- Australia: over 4.17 lakh tonnes
- Russia: 22,938 tonnes
Yellow pea imports increased 17% during the period, with Canada accounting for the bulk at over 5.7 lakh tonnes; Russia was the other major supplier.
Chana slides on price gap, urad dips on Myanmar reliance
Chana imports declined more than 45% due to a slowdown in shipments from Australia. Australia remains the largest supplier to India, exporting over 6.03 lakh tonnes, followed by Tanzania with around 28,743 tonnes, the UK and Burma, according to the update.
“The chana imports were down due to lower domestic prices and higher international prices during this period,” said Rahul Chauhan of Igrain India.
Urad imports fell 19% in the first half. Traditional supplier Myanmar accounted for the bulk at 2.78 lakh tonnes, followed by Brazil at 39,309 tonnes and Thailand at over 11,448 tonnes. The diverging trade flows across pulses underscore how domestic price dynamics and origin-specific supply conditions are reshaping India’s protein import basket, according to the IPGA-backed data. Traders and procurement teams tracking Indian demand will be watching whether the chana price gap persists and whether African tur and Canadian masoor flows hold their current pace through the second half.
Sources:
