Source: APKinform (Ukraine)
The government of India has recently prolonged the duty-free import of yellow peas for an additional three months, now set to last until the end of May 2025, as reported by Grain Online citing Indian news outlets.
Initially instituted in December 2023, the duty-free import of yellow peas was enacted to stabilize market prices and address the shortage in the country’s grain legume sector. This policy has been extended multiple times since its inception.
In a related development, the Indian government introduced a 10% tariff on lentil (masoor) imports last week. Officials indicated that this step is intended to ensure that consumers have access to affordable pulses while simultaneously offering a reassuring signal to farmers.
Official statistics indicate that approximately 3 million tons of peas were imported in 2024, contributing to a total of 6.7 million tons of grain legume imports. India primarily sources yellow peas and lentils from Canada, Russia, and Australia.
The significant influx of yellow peas is chiefly attributed to its competitive pricing. Currently, the price of this crop delivered to India ranges from Rs 32-35/kg, while the retail price is around Rs 40/kg. This is substantially lower when compared to the prices of other grain legumes, which vary between Rs 90-160/kg.
Regarding masoor, the government had previously lowered the basic import duty to 0% in July 2021 and exempted it from a 10% agro-infrastructure tax in February 2022. This policy has also been renewed multiple times, remaining effective until March 2024. Now, sources indicate that masoor will be subject to a basic customs duty of 5% along with agricultural infrastructure and development tax.