Import of yellow peas in April is the lowest after December 2023
15-May-2025 11:47 AM
New Delhi. During the first month of the current financial year, i.e. April 2025, the import of yellow peas in the country is expected to decline to the lowest level since December 2023.
This is mainly because of a good stock of previously imported yellow peas and the arrival of the domestic crop starting in March-April. The deadline for duty-free import of yellow peas is set to end on 31 May 2025.
When the government approved duty-free import of yellow peas in December 2023, 10,980 tonnes were brought into the country, and imports steadily increased thereafter.
The quantity reached 1,57,795 tonnes in January 2024, 3,29,599 tonnes in February, and 6,70,836 tonnes in March. Thus, a total of 11,69,210 tonnes were imported from December 2023 to March 2024.
In the financial year 2024-25 (April–March), yellow pea imports rose significantly to 21,45,775 tonnes. This included 4,02,548 tonnes in April 2024, 2,84,181 tonnes in May,
1,44,409 tonnes in June, 1,01,478 tonnes in July, 43,420 tonnes in August, 40,155 tonnes in September, 3,18,454 tonnes in October, 2,40,327 tonnes in November, and 2,06,317 tonnes in December 2024.
Subsequently, 1,79,288 tonnes were imported in January 2025, followed by 1,46,504 tonnes in February. The import figures then declined to 39,149 tonnes in March 2025 and are expected to fall further to 29,308 tonnes in April 2025.
Yellow peas are mainly imported into India from Canada and Russia, with smaller quantities coming from other countries.
The estimated import of 29,308 tonnes in April 2025 is 3,73,240 tonnes less than the 4,02,548 tonnes imported in April 2024, and about 10,000 tonnes less than the 39,149 tonnes imported in March 2025.
In total, from December 2023 to April 2025, 33,44,293 tonnes of yellow peas have been imported into India (11,69,210 + 21,45,775 + 29,308 tonnes).
With imports expected to continue in May, total imports are likely to exceed 33.50 lakh tonnes. If the current import policy continues without any new duty being imposed, the flow of yellow peas from abroad is expected to continue in the future as well.