China Breaks Record with over USD 100 mn in Pulse Imports from India

According to APEDA data, Chinese imports of Indian pulses totaled USD 102.41 million from April to January 2022-23, up from USD 89.03 million in the full 2021-22 period. During this time, India's total pulses exports climbed by 25% to USD 476 million, up from USD 379 million in the previous fiscal year.

Chinese purchases of Indian pulses in large amounts, which began during the Covid epidemic, have been sustained and increased multifold in recent years. The amount of pulses exported from India to China has increased fivefold in the last four years, while the value has more than tripled in the last three.

"In recent years, China has emerged as a major consumer of pulses." Their eating habits are changing, and their consumption is increasing year after year," stated Harsha Rai, Vice President of Sales at Mayur Global Corporation, a worldwide pulse broker.

Rai claims that China, which previously exported light-speckled kidney beans (Rajma-Chitra) to India, has suddenly become an importer. China has been importing LSKB from India for the past two years. At the same time, India has turned to origins such as Brazil to supply growing LSKB demand, according to Rai.

In addition, the Chinese have increased their purchases of Kabuli chana from India, which they previously purchased from Turkey. Furthermore, Rai stated that throughout the pandemic time, Chinese demand for Indian cowpeas, particularly the orange-colored type grown in the Mysore region, had increased.

China has been purchasing all types of pulses, including mung beans, from all around the world, she added. M Angamuthu, chairman of APEDA, stated that China has lower import duties on pulses than other countries. Over the last few years, India's pulse production has continuously expanded, encouraging some types' exports. India is the world's largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses.

According to the Agriculture Ministry's second advance estimates given in mid-February, India's overall pulses production has increased from roughly 18.3 million tonnes in 2012-13 to around 27.81 million tonnes in 2022-23.

Due to climate difficulties, a deficiency in the production of pulses such as tur (pigeon pea) and urad has compelled the government to keep imports open for certain types until March 2024.