IGrain India Exclusive Report: Rising Lentil Consumption in India, Alongside Growth in Imports and Production

14-May-2025 01:34 PM

IGrain India Exclusive Report: Rising Lentil Consumption in India, Alongside Growth in Imports and Production
Analysis of Data from 2021-22 to 2024-25
★ India has witnessed significant changes in the production, import, consumption, and stock levels of lentils over the past few years. Driven by rapidly increasing demand, both domestic production and imports have seen a substantial rise, indicating shifting trends in the lentil market.
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Steady Growth in Production
★ Lentil production in India was 1.49 million tonnes (MT) in 2021-22, and it is projected to rise to 1.70 MT by 2024-25 — a growth of around 14% over four years.
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Fluctuating but High Imports
★ India imported 1.12 MT of lentils in 2021-22, which dropped to 0.67 MT in 2022-23. However, imports surged again to 1.60 MT in 2023-24 and are expected to be around 1.21 MT in 2024-25.
★ This reflects India’s continued dependence on imports to meet its growing domestic demand.
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Rising Consumption
★ Lentil consumption has steadily increased due to population growth and changing consumer preferences.
It stood at 2.20 MT in 2021-22 and is expected to reach 2.80 MT by 2024-25 — nearly a 27% increase in four years.
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Stable Stock Levels
★ India’s closing stock of lentils was 0.54 MT in 2021-22, which declined to 0.17 MT in 2022-23. In the following years, stocks recovered to 0.72 MT in 2023-24 and are estimated at 0.70 MT in 2024-25.
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Marginal but Consistent Exports
★ India’s lentil exports remain limited. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, only 20,000 tonnes were exported. Exports rose to 0.15 MT in 2023-24 and are expected to be 0.13 MT in 2024-25.
★ Notably, exports to Bangladesh increase when domestic prices fall.
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Market Outlook and Government Measures
★ Going forward, the government may consider stock control, export incentives, or import policy adjustments to maintain market stability.
★ Recently, India imposed a 10% import duty on lentils; however, by then, substantial exports had already been made from Canada and Australia.
★ Both countries now report low stock levels, with sowing underway. Acreage is expected to increase in Canada and remain steady in Australia. New crops from these countries are expected after four months.
★ If imports decline, there is a strong likelihood of price recovery in the Indian market.
★ Lentils currently have the highest share among all imported pulses, playing a key role in bridging India’s pulse consumption gap.