Mixed trend in export of lentils and Desi gram from Australia

04-Jul-2025 06:22 PM

Brisbane. A mixed trend has emerged in the export of lentils and Desi gram from Australia—one of the leading global suppliers of Desi gram and the second largest exporter of lentils—during the 2024–25 marketing season compared to 2023–24. While lentil exports have shown a decline, shipments of Desi gram have increased significantly.

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), lentil exports rose from 39,719 tonnes in April 2025 to 49,708 tonnes in May 2025.

However, total lentil exports during the first seven months of the current marketing season (November 2024 to May 2025) stood at 8,08,348 tonnes—well below the 9,72,941 tonnes shipped during the same period in 2023–24. In May 2025, Bangladesh was the largest buyer with imports of 27,938 tonnes, followed by Sri Lanka with 14,896 tonnes and India with 3,515 tonnes.

In contrast, Desi gram exports from Australia have increased notably. In April 2025, 11,195 tonnes were shipped, rising to 13,674 tonnes in May.

During May, Pakistan imported 9,420 tonnes, the UAE imported 1,417 tonnes, and Canada received 1,171 tonnes, making these the top three destinations for Australian gram exports. Notably, India—historically a major buyer—was absent from the top three.

Between November 2024 and May 2025, Australia exported a total of 18,53,798 tonnes of Desi gram, a significant increase compared to the same period the previous year.

India's import of Australian gram had picked up sharply after the government made it duty-free in May 2024. However, with the imposition of a 10 percent import duty in April 2025 and a subsequent decline in domestic prices, Indian interest in gram imports fell considerably.