Pulses Import Value Drops 23.5% in April on Falling Yellow Pea, Lentil Purchases by Amit Gupta, Kedia Advisory
India’s pulses import value fell sharply by 23.5% to $314.4 million in April 2025, driven by a significant drop in yellow peas and lentil imports compared to last year. After record imports in FY25 to boost domestic supplies amid lower crop output, analysts expect slower imports this year due to improved monsoon forecasts and better domestic production prospects. While yellow pea imports plummeted from 4.02 lakh tonnes to just 29,308 tonnes in April, tur and urad imports increased. The government’s duty-free import windows have influenced import trends, and overall pulses imports are expected to decline following the previous year’s record high of over 67 lakh tonnes.
Key Highlights
Pulses import value dropped 23.5% to $314.4 million in April 2025.
Yellow pea imports plunged from 4.02 lakh to 29,308 tonnes in April.
Lentil imports also declined from 64,583 to 36,007 tonnes.
Tur and urad imports rose significantly in April 2025.
Overall pulses imports expected to slow after record FY25 purchases.
India’s pulses import value dropped by 23.5% to $314.4 million in April 2025 compared to $411 million in the same month last year. This decline was primarily due to a sharp fall in the import of yellow peas and lentils. After a record import spree in the fiscal year 2024-25 to compensate for a poor domestic crop and stabilize prices, the trend appears to be reversing.
Yellow pea imports, which had surged in FY25 following the government’s decision to open duty-free imports in December 2023, fell drastically in April to 29,308 tonnes from 4.02 lakh tonnes the previous year. This steep drop signals an easing of supply pressures as domestic production is expected to improve, aided by forecasts of an above-normal monsoon.
Similarly, lentil imports decreased from 64,583 tonnes in April last year to 36,007 tonnes this April. However, imports of other pulses like tur and urad increased, with tur imports rising to 98,162 tonnes and urad to 89,212 tonnes in April 2025. The duty-free import window for tur and urad remains open until March 2026, supporting continued import activity in these categories.
India’s overall pulses import bill had crossed $5.4 billion in 2024-25, reflecting a 52.2% rise in import volumes to a record 67.05 lakh tonnes. The significant imports helped augment domestic supplies and control prices during a challenging agricultural year.
Finally,
With better monsoon forecasts and improved domestic output, pulses imports are poised to slow down after last year’s record highs, supporting market stability.
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