Pulses imports dive 18%; tur, urad surge

Lower purchases of yellow peas and chickpeas drag overall volumes despite stronger buying from Myanmar and Africa

India’s pulses imports in 2025-26 fell nearly 18% year-on-year to 5.96 million tonnes, mainly due to lower purchases of yellow peas, chana and other varieties, according to commerce ministry data. In value terms, imports declined nearly 35% to $3.57 billion.

  Despite the overall fall, imports of tur and urad increased during the year. Tur imports rose over 21% to 1.48 million tonnes, accounting for nearly a quarter of India’s total pulses imports. Mozambique emerged as the largest supplier with 590,712 tonnes, followed by Myanmar at 366,400 tonnes and Tanzania at 360,260 tonnes.  Smaller quantities were also imported from Malawi and other countries.

  Urad imports climbed more than 28% on year to 1.05 million tonnes. Myanmar remained the top supplier at 781,135 tonnes, while Brazil supplied 240,748 tonnes. Thailand also exported smaller quantities of urad to India during the year.

  Masur imports, however, fell nearly 6% to 1.15 million tonnes in FY26. Australia and Canada remained the biggest suppliers, exporting 565,528 tonnes and 533,273 tonnes respectively. 

India also imported masur from Russia and the US.Yellow peas recorded the steepest decline among major pulses, with imports dropping nearly 49% on year to 1.11 million tonnes. Canada accounted for the bulk of shipments at 875,515 tonnes, followed by Russia at 190,490 tonnes. Imports also came from Argentina and Latvia. Chana imports declined over 33% to 1.01 million tonnes during FY26. 

 Australia supplied 836,270 tonnes, while Tanzania exported 165,482 tonnes. India also sourced smaller quantities from Myanmar. Imports of other pulses, including moong, red beans, kidney beans and broad beans, fell nearly 49% on year to 164,775 tonnes. —Informist