Urad (black matpe) prices have surged by about 20% over the past month, leading the firm trend in pulses, according to the Agriculture Ministry's UPAG portal data. The all-India average wholesale mandi prices of urad have increased sharply, reflecting a combination of tight supplies, rebound in demand, and concerns over deficit rain affecting kharif sowing, according to B KrishnaMurthy of Four P International, an importer in Chennai.
Price Drivers and Mandi Trends
The price rise in urad is due to a demand-supply gap, a rebound in demand, a rise in prices in origins such as Myanmar and Brazil, a weaker Indian rupee, and partly due to fears of deficit rain hurting the kharif sowing, Krishnamurthy said. The sowing of urad as of July 17 was 13.51 lakh hectares, some 6% lower than the same period last year, adding to supply concerns.
Supply Crunch in Myanmar and Brazil
India's urad production for the 2025-26 season fell to 21.60 lakh tonne, down from 22.42 lakh tonne the previous year, resulting in tight supplies. Production in key origins Myanmar and Brazil also suffered due to adverse climate and disease. According to Krishnamurthy, the yield in Myanmar is down by 30% as per trade estimates. The 2025 Myanmar crop, which was about 1 million tonne, is "certainly not more than 7 lakh tonne this year," as the crop suffered yield loss due to yellow mosaic virus disease. In Brazil, the trade initially estimated a production of about 4.5 lakh tonne but now fears it is down to 3 lakh tonne because of unfavourable climate.
The impact of these reductions is reflected in the CNF prices for Myanmar black matpe for July delivery in Chennai, as per the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) data:
| Quality | June 15 Price | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ 2026 | $825/tonne | $935/tonne |
| Superior 2026 | $905/tonne | $1,030/tonne |
"The yield in Myanmar is down by 30 per cent as per trade estimates. The 2025 Myanmar crop, which was about 1 million tonne, is certainly not more than 7 lakh tonne this year as the crop had suffered yield loss due to the yellow mosaic virus disease," said Krishnamurthy.
Domestic Production and Sowing
The rabi crop in Andhra Pradesh faced a yield loss of around 15-20%, and the crop this year was picked up by some 6-7 northern States, which was quite unusual, resulting in reduced stocks, Krishnamurthy said. He added, "On top of all this, El Nino has started playing out, but even then people are not carrying stocks. People, who had suffered losses in the past couple of years, are just running hand-to-mouth."
Import Data
According to import data from the Department of Commerce compiled by the India Pulses and Grains Association, urad imports during January-May 2026 stood at 2.93 lakh tonne, lower than 3.83 lakh tonne a year ago. Imports from Myanmar were 2.35 lakh tonne, from Brazil 37,780 tonne, from Thailand 11,228 tonne, and from other origins 8,124 tonne. The decline in imports underscores the tighter global supply situation.
Market Sentiment and Outlook
Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India noted that yields have been lower in Myanmar and Brazil due to adverse climate, and trade in those countries is aware that India has a shortfall in urad crop. With kharif sowing trailing last year's pace and no significant stock accumulation by traders, the market remains vulnerable to further price spikes. Traders are watching for progress of the monsoon and the kharif harvest in the coming months.
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