Chana prices rise further on strong demand from pulse mills; up by ₹125 in Delhi and ₹150 in Mumbai

The domestic chana (gram) market continues to witness an upward trend, supported by robust demand from pulse mills and active buying. Today, chana prices in Delhi rose by ₹125 per quintal, while imported chana prices in Mumbai increased by ₹150 per quintal. Following the rally in the Delhi market, prices for 'Madhya Pradesh-line' chana reached ₹7,625–₹7,650 per quintal, and 'Rajasthan-line' chana hit ₹7,650–₹7,675 per quintal. Similarly, in Mumbai, prices reached ₹7,500 per quintal for Tanzanian chana, ₹7,650 for Australian chana, and ₹7,525 for Mundra-origin Australian chana.

Market strengthened by limited stocks

The primary driver of the market rally is strong purchasing by pulse mills. Demand for chana dal (split gram) and besan (gram flour) is expected to remain strong over the next one-and-a-half to two months due to the festive season. Meanwhile, most pulse mills in the domestic market are left with limited carry-over stocks of chana. Arrivals of domestic chana in producing markets are also falling short of expected levels. Stocks of imported chana at ports are limited, and imports from Tanzania are currently low in volume. Furthermore, the landed cost of imported chana remains high. All these factors are providing sustained support to chana prices in the domestic market.

Weather and global supply also favor the price rise

Concerns regarding El Niño and drought, limited global availability of yellow peas, and the depreciation of the rupee are also significant factors contributing to the rally in the chana market. Drought conditions have been declared in approximately 75 percent of the areas in Karnataka and Maharashtra; both states are major producers of tur (pigeon pea) and chana in the country.

Prices of Imported Chickpeas Also Firm

C&F prices for Australian chickpeas at Nhava Sheva port have reached approximately $800 per tonne for October-November shipments and around $810 per tonne for November-December shipments. Meanwhile, prices for Tanzanian chickpeas are reported to be around $785 per tonne for October shipments.

Market Outlook

Given the strong festive demand, active buying by pulse mills, limited domestic arrivals, low mill stocks, and high import costs, the chickpea market is likely to maintain a bullish trend in the near term. However, intermittent market volatility may occur due to profit-booking amidst the continuously rising prices.