Pulse Imports Decline by 35% Over 10 Months

30-Mar-2026 07:24 PM

New Delhi. During the financial year 2024-25, the country's pulse imports surged to a new record high; however, in the current financial year of 2025-26, imports have declined significantly. It is understood that this reduction in imports is attributable to high carry-over stocks from the previous period and improved domestic production.

According to preliminary data, the total import expenditure on pulses rose sharply to $4.60 billion during the 10-month period from April 2024 to January 2025; subsequently, during the 10-month period from April 2025 to January 2026, this figure dropped by 35 percent to $2.97 billion.

Similarly, in terms of volume, a substantial decline in pulse imports was recorded during the period under review. In the first 10 months of the financial year 2024-25, India imported 6.01 million tonnes of pulses; during the corresponding period of the financial year 2025-26,

this volume fell by over 18 percent to stand at 4.9 million tonnes. Notably, during the entire financial year 2024-25 (April–March), the country witnessed a record import of approximately 7.3 million tonnes of pulses.

The Secretary of a leading trade body—the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA)—states that for the full financial year 2025-26, the country's total pulse imports are likely to remain limited to around 5.2 million tonnes.

According to the Secretary, during the months of February and March 2026, the country imported a mere 200,000 to 300,000 tonnes of pulses from various nations, including Canada, Australia, African countries, and Myanmar.

This year, pulses were available at relatively lower prices in the international market. Compared to 2023-24, the total import expenditure on pulses during the financial year 2024-25 surged by 46 percent, reaching a record high of $5.48 billion.