After the abolition of customs duty, the import of Desi gram started increasing.

09-Aug-2024 05:52 PM

Mumbai. To ease the supply and availability situation in the domestic sector and to curb the rise in prices, the Central Government has made the import of gram duty free till 31 October 2024,

whereas earlier it was subjected to a hefty customs duty of 66 percent and hence its limited import from abroad was happening. After the abolition of customs duty,

the import has started increasing. In the first four months of the current financial year, the import of gram jumped to a high of 82,322 tonnes, whereas in the same period before this,

its import could reach only 1341 tonnes in 2023-24, 4891 tonnes in 2022-23 and 14,066 tonnes in 2021-22. According to the data received, 2371 tonnes of gram was imported in April this year,

but in May this figure increased to 27,577 tonnes. It is estimated that 28,520 tonnes of gram will be imported in June and 23,854 tonnes in July.

In comparison, 342 tonnes of gram were imported in April 2023, 240 tonnes in May, 242 tonnes in June and 517 tonnes in July.

In the year 2022, there was no import of gram in May and July. But there is a possibility of a huge increase in imports from Australia in the financial year as now its import has become completely duty free.

25,853 tonnes of Desi gram is estimated to be imported inside the country in July 2024, which includes 20,540 tonnes from Australia, 2712 tonnes from Ethiopia and 601 tonnes from Myanmar. Out of this,

14,387 tonnes of gram is expected to reach Kolkata port, 6572 tonnes at JNPT, 1476 tonnes at Mundra, 692 tonnes at Kandla, 528 tonnes at Chennai and 199 tonnes at Tuticorin port.

The price of gram in the domestic sector is running much higher than the minimum support price while its strong demand and consumption season has also begun.