Tight Supply Boosts Gram Prices
13-Jan-2026 03:00 PM
New Delhi. Indications are that gram prices are set to improve due to festive demand and the ongoing off-season for supply. For the past two weeks, gram prices have been gradually rising and are now trying to reach close to the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Due to the tight supply situation, gram prices increased by Rs. 225-300 per quintal during the last two weeks. Prices are expected to remain firm in the future as well.
The secretary of a leading trade body, the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), says that there is good festive demand for gram.
The stock of gram remaining with producers and traders is not of good quality, and therefore, there is less interest in buying it. Meanwhile, the price of yellow peas has also strengthened, which is supporting the demand for gram.
The association's weekly review report states that the prices of domestic and imported gram have increased for the third consecutive week. The third week ended on January 10. Regular demand from traders and pulse millers/processors is strengthening gram prices.
The price of gram imported from abroad has also increased slightly. In the domestic market, gram arrivals are decreasing in major markets before the start of harvesting of the new crop, and the supply situation is seen as tight.
Given the possibility of better gram production during the 2025-26 season, Indian importers are showing caution in contracting gram imports from Australia and African countries for shipments in the coming months.
Compared to the last marketing season, gram imports from Australia have decreased by 6 percent to 3.89 lakh tonnes this time.
According to analysts, gram prices are likely to fluctuate within a certain range around the MSP. The government's strategy for gram procurement in the upcoming marketing season will also affect the market.
The MSP for gram has been fixed at Rs. 5875 per quintal this time. During the week of January 10th, the average market price of chickpeas was recorded at ₹5417 per quintal, which was slightly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹5650 per quintal.