Traders strike deals to import three mt pulses

“Retail pulse prices have been on an upward trajectory as its output is estimated to have declined to 17.06 million tonnes (mt) in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) due to successive droughts while domestic demand hovers around 23-24 mt. 

“Last year the traders had imported a record 5.79 mt of pulses. This year, they have so far contracted to import 3 mt, which is expected to start arriving from August till December. It will include yellow peas, chana, masoor and tur,” Indian Pulses and Grains Association Vice-Chairman Bimal Kothari told PTI. 

Yellow peas will come from Canada and European countries, chana from Australia, masoor from Canada and Australia and tur from East Africa and Myanmar, he said, pegging the overall value of pulse import at close to USD 2 billion.