Chickpea prices decline due to weak buying and sell-offs by stockists; limited stocks suggest a major downturn is unlikely.
New Delhi. Chickpea prices in the domestic market trended downward this week, driven by increased selling—as stockists booked profits at higher price levels—and subdued buying from pulse millers. Currently, demand for split chickpeas (chana dal) and chickpea flour (besan) remains limited, keeping procurement by pulse mills sluggish. However, demand for these products is expected to improve as the upcoming consumption season approaches. Pulse mills are reported to hold limited remaining stocks of chickpeas. Meanwhile, arrivals of domestic chickpeas in the primary producing markets are falling short of requirements, raising concerns regarding market availability. Given this, even with the current decline, the possibility of a sharp price drop remains limited—provided that demand improves and selling pressure does not intensify. The availability of imported chickpeas also remains a critical factor for the domestic market. With reduced imports from Tanzania and higher costs associated with sourcing from Australia, the market is closely monitoring both the supply and the landed cost of imported stock. Should the availability of imported chickpeas remain constrained and import costs stay high, domestic prices could find support. Furthermore, there are concerns regarding chickpea sowing for the upcoming Rabi season; low soil moisture in key producing regions may hinder the progress of sowing. With drought conditions declared in several areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra, the outlook for the upcoming harvest is also being closely watched. However, a clear assessment of actual production will only be possible once the sown area, weather conditions, and the progress of crop development become clearer. In the near term, the trajectory of the chickpea market will primarily depend on demand from pulse mills, selling activity by stockists, market arrivals in producing regions, and the cost of imported chickpeas. While weak demand may continue to exert pressure on prices, factors such as limited availability, high import costs, and an anticipated rise in demand during the upcoming consumption season are likely to provide support to the market. Due to subdued demand from pulse millers, chana (chickpea) prices in Delhi declined by Rs 150 per quintal this week; consequently, prices for 'Madhya Pradesh-origin' chana stood at Rs 7,400–7,425 per quintal, and 'Rajasthan-origin' chana at Rs 7,475–7,500 per quintal.
Ports
The market for imported chana saw a decline this week, driven by increased selling by importers alongside weaker buying interest. By the end of the week, prices for imported chana had fallen by Rs 150 per quintal: Tanzanian chana was quoted at Rs 7,350–7,400 per quintal at Mumbai port, Australian chana at Rs 7,500–7,550 per quintal at Nhava Sheva port, and imported chana at Rs 7,375–7,400 per quintal at Mundra port.
Rajasthan
Increased selling pressure and weak demand led to a decline of Rs 100–200 per quintal in chana prices across Rajasthan this week. By the end of the week, prices stood as follows: Rs 6,000–6,950 per quintal in Jodhpur, Rs 7,525 in Jaipur, Rs 6,900–7,100 in Bikaner, Rs 6,700–6,950 in Kishangarh, and Rs 6,500–6,900 in Kota.
Maharashtra
Due to weak demand, prices of gram (chana) in Maharashtra declined by Rs 125–250 per quintal during the current week. By the end of the week, prices stood at Rs 6,600–8,100 per quintal in Solapur, Rs 7,500 in Latur, Rs 7,800 in Akola, Rs 7,750 in Nagpur, and Rs 7,200–7,400 in Ahmednagar.
Madhya Pradesh
Persistent weak demand led to a decline of Rs 100–200 per quintal in gram prices across Madhya Pradesh this week. By the weekend, prices were recorded at Rs 6,800–7,250 per quintal in Ashoknagar, Rs 6,600–7,200 in Ganjbasoda, Rs 6,800–7,200 in Sagar, Rs 7,425–7,500 in Katni, and Rs 7,400–7,500 in Indore.
Others
Reflecting a broad downward trend and weak buying interest, gram prices in Kanpur fell by Rs 225 per quintal this week, closing at Rs 7,600 per quintal. Similarly, gram prices in Raipur saw a decline of Rs 400 per quintal, with prices settling at Rs 7,200–7,500 per quintal by the end of the week. Chana Dal (Split Chickpea)
Due to sustained demand, prices of Chana Dal saw a decline of Rs 150–250 per quintal during the current week. By the end of the week, prices stood at Rs 8,750–9,150 per quintal in Delhi, Rs 9,100–9,400 in Bhatapara, Rs 9,300 in Katni, Rs 9,200–9,300 in Gulbarga, Rs 9,350–10,100 in Jalgaon, Rs 8,625 in Jaipur, and Rs 8,450–8,500 in Kanpur.
