India’s pulses imports reached a record 66.33 lakh tonnes in 2024, nearly doubling from the previous year. The surge was primarily driven by increased yellow pea imports, which were allowed duty-free to address a shortfall in domestic chana production.
Tur and urad imports also reached all-time highs, accounting for 25% of India’s total pulses consumption. The increase was a response to erratic climate conditions affecting domestic pulse output. The government has extended the duty-free import window for tur until 2026 to ensure adequate supply.
Chana imports increased four-fold, from 1.31 lakh tonnes in 2023 to 5.74 lakh in 2024. However, India’s pulse production has faced challenges due to climate change, leading to a decline in production from 273.02 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 242.46 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. The government has extended the duty-free import window for tur until March 2026 to ensure continued supply.
