India Pulses Market- Trend Analysis & Forecasts

Market/ Product Overview

India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses, with total domestic production estimated at ** million tonnes in 2025/26, compared with ** million tonnes in 2020/21, reflecting moderate recovery following weather-related disruptions. The overall India pulses market value is estimated at US$ ** billion in 2024, driven by steady growth in household consumption, expanding packaged food demand, and rising protein awareness among urban consumers. Pulses contribute nearly 7–8% to India’s total foodgrain production and occupy approximately 29 million hectares of cultivated area, representing 20% of total cropped area under food grains.

Consumption per capita in India has stabilized around 19.2 kg annually in 2024, slightly below the recommended 24 kg protein-equivalent intake, indicating continued growth potential. Key pulse varieties include chana (gram), which accounts for 40–42% of total production, followed by tur/arhar at 18–20%, urad at 10–12%, and moong at 9–10%. The kharif season contributes nearly 55% of annual pulses output, while the rabi season contributes the remaining 45%, making the market highly dependent on monsoon performance.

Government interventions have expanded procurement volumes from below 1 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 4.2 million tonnes in 2023, helping stabilize prices and incentivize farmers. MSP for tur increased from INR 6,600 per quintal in 2021 to INR 7,000+ per quintal in 2024, encouraging acreage expansion. Meanwhile, retail pulse prices averaged INR 90–110 per kg across major varieties in 2024, reflecting inflationary pressures and supply tightness. With growing population expected to reach 1.53 billion by 2032, domestic demand is forecast to expand steadily, supporting moderate but sustained market growth.

Significance of India in Global Pulses Supply Chain

India plays a dominant role in the global pulses supply chain, accounting for **% of global production and more than **% of total global consumption in 2025. The country’s import demand significantly influences global prices, particularly for tur, urad, and masoor. India imported ** million tonnes of pulses in 2025, down from ** million tonnes in 2020, reflecting improved domestic output and restrictive import policies. However, periodic shortfalls continue to trigger import demand spikes, which impact exporting countries such as Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

India’s domestic production variability often shapes global trade flows, as a 1 million tonne supply deficit in India can shift international prices by 8–12%. For example, during 2021–22, lower Indian tur production resulted in a 14% increase in import demand, pushing Myanmar export prices above US$ ** per tonne. India also influences planting decisions in exporting nations, with Canadian farmers allocating nearly 18% of pulse acreage to India-driven demand in 2023.

India’s government-to-government agreements with Mozambique and Myanmar for tur imports covering up to 200,000 tonnes annually further highlight its strategic procurement role. Additionally, India’s consumption-driven market structure differs from export-oriented countries, with over 92% of production consumed domestically. This consumption-heavy demand ensures India remains the key price setter and balancing market for global pulses supply chains.

India Pulses Supply & Demand Trend

India’s pulses supply-demand balance has gradually improved over the past decade, with production rising from ** million tonnes in 2013 to ** million tonnes in 2025. However, demand has also increased steadily, reaching nearly ** million tonnes in 2025, creating a structural gap of ** million tonnes annually. This deficit is typically met through imports, which averaged ** million tonnes annually between 2020 and 2025. Domestic production growth has been driven by yield improvements, which increased from 690 kg/ha in 2010 to 870 kg/ha in 2024.

Chana production accounts for ** million tonnes, making it the largest segment, followed by tur at ** million tonnes and urad at around ** million tonnes. Demand growth is primarily supported by population increase of **% annually and dietary protein diversification, particularly in urban households where pulse consumption rose 4.5% between 2021 and 2024. Food processing demand, including ready-to-cook and packaged pulses, is estimated to represent **% of total demand, compared with **% in 2018.

Government buffer stocks have also expanded to stabilize markets, with strategic reserves estimated at 1.2 million tonnes in 2024. Procurement agencies such as NAFED increased procurement volumes by 18% year-on-year in 2023 to support MSP. However, supply volatility remains linked to monsoon performance, as nearly 70% of pulse cultivation is rain-fed. Yield variability of ±10% annually continues to influence domestic price fluctuations, particularly for tur and urad varieties.

India Pulses Market Segmentation

The India pulses market is segmented by type, end use, distribution channel, and region. By type, chana dominates with **% share of production, followed by tur at **%, urad at **%, moong at **%, masoor at **%, and other pulses accounting for the remaining share. Chana demand is driven by both household consumption and processed food applications, with annual consumption exceeding ** million tonnes. Tur is primarily consumed as dal, accounting for **% of its use, while urad is widely used in South Indian food applications, representing ** million tonnes consumption annually.

By end use, household consumption accounts for **% of total demand, reflecting strong traditional usage. Food processing accounts for around **%, while HoReCa contributes **%. The processed food segment is growing faster, with demand for packaged dal increasing by **% annually. Distribution channels are dominated by traditional retail, which accounts for **% of sales, followed by modern retail at **% and e-commerce at **%. Online pulse sales increased by **% annually between 2021 and 2024.

Regionally, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka account for **% of total production. Madhya Pradesh alone contributes **% of national pulses output. Consumption is highest in northern and western India, where per capita consumption exceeds 21 kg annually. Southern India drives demand for urad and moong, accounting for **% of urad consumption. These segmentation dynamics highlight diversified demand patterns across varieties and regions.

India Pulses Trade (Export & Import) Trend

India’s pulses trade is driven primarily by domestic production variability, with imports averaging 2.5–3.0 million tonnes annually. In 2025, India imported 6.57 million tonnes, valued at nearly US$ 4.27 billion. Major imports include lentils from Canada, tur from Myanmar and Mozambique, and chickpeas from Australia. Canada accounted for **% of India’s pulses imports in 2023, followed by Australia at **% and Myanmar at **%.

Import policies remain dynamic, with tariffs ranging from zero to 50% depending on domestic supply conditions. For example, India reduced import duty on masoor to zero in 2023 to control inflation. Government quota-based imports for tur allow up to 1 million tonnes annually. India also maintains long-term agreements with Mozambique for tur imports of up to 200,000 tonnes annually.

Exports remain limited but growing, reaching 1.02 million tonnes in 2023, mainly chickpeas and specialty pulses. Bangladesh, UAE, and Sri Lanka are key export destinations. Export prices averaged US$ 650–720 per tonne in 2023. Trade dynamics remain influenced by domestic price stability policies, which prioritize food security over export growth.

Influence of India in Global Pulses Price

India’s demand significantly influences global pulses prices due to its large consumption share. When India increases imports by 1 million tonnes, global prices typically rise by 8–12%. For instance, masoor prices increased from US$ 520 per tonne in 2020 to US$ 700 per tonne in 2021 following increased Indian demand. Similarly, tur prices in Myanmar rose by 14% in 2022 after India relaxed import restrictions.

Domestic wholesale prices also influence international markets, with chana wholesale prices in India averaging INR 5,500 per quintal in 2023. Global exporters often benchmark prices against Indian domestic demand. Import parity pricing plays a key role, with landed cost of lentils in India averaging US$ 720 per tonne in 2024. India’s buffer stock releases also affect prices, as government sales of 200 thousand tonnes in 2023 reduced domestic prices by **%. This price-setting influence reinforces India’s central role in global pulses markets.

Future Outlook

The India pulses market is projected to grow steadily, with demand expected to reach ** million tonnes by 2032 from around ** million tonnes in 2024. Production is forecast to increase to ** million tonnes, supported by yield improvements and MSP incentives. Imports are expected to remain between ** million tonnes annually. Rising protein demand, urbanization, and branded segment expansion are likely to drive growth at **% CAGR. India will continue to influence global prices, while supply chain modernization and productivity improvements will shape long-term market stability.