Australia's gram exports saw a dramatic increase in November 2024, reaching over 4.42 lakh tonnes, more than four times the volume exported in October 2024, which was just under 1.01 lakh tonnes.

This surge is attributed to strong demand from Indian importers, who are taking advantage of the duty-free import extension of gram until March 31, 2025. In fact, India was the primary destination for Australian gram exports, receiving about 80% of the total shipments, or 3.49 lakh tonnes.

Smaller quantities were exported to Pakistan (50,283 tonnes) and Bangladesh (21,243 tonnes), with some shipments going to other countries as well.

The sharp rise in exports comes in contrast to the significantly reduced gram production in Australia due to a drought during the 2023-24 season. In November 2023, Australia's gram exports were just 32,698 tonnes, underscoring the impact of the drought on production.

This increased export activity aligns with India's rising demand, where the price of gram in local markets remains significantly higher than the government's minimum support price (MSP). In India, the MSP for gram was raised for the 2024-25 season to Rs 5,650 per quintal, up from Rs 5,440 per quintal in 2023-24, although market prices are still higher.

The new crop in India is expected to be slightly better than the previous season, and the weather conditions in the coming weeks will be crucial for its production. Sporadic arrivals of the new crop are expected soon.