Improvement in arrivals in the market amid sluggish demand is putting pressure on chana (Bengal gram) prices, which have been trending lower for the last few weeks. Due to increase in fresh arrivals, prices have started coming down in major producing states. In key mandis of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, where the new crop has started arriving in the markets, gram prices are currently trading below the minimum support price (MSP) level.
Market participants say that the main reason for weakness in prices is the expectation of a big crop in this Rabi season. Higher acreage, coupled with favorable weather conditions during the growing period, is widely seen to support better production prospects. Traders say the weak price trend may get some support after the government intervenes and starts purchasing chana at MSP.
slack demand
Satish Upadhyay, honorary secretary, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), said prices have weakened by about 10-15 per cent in the last 15 days as arrivals have started picking up, demand is weak and the government has not yet started procurement at MSP. He said that the commencement of procurement will support gram prices.
“Mandi prices are hovering around ₹54-55 per kg and in the coming days the crop will arrive in full quantity in Maharashtra, then Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. A big crop is yet to come and prices will go down from here. Demand for chana dal is not increasing as we are still getting chana at ₹53 at the port. We are getting better quality chana and people are buying it instead of buying from the mandis.”
According to IPGA data, the price of gram imported from Tanzania is Rs 5,300 per quintal at Mumbai port, while the price of Australian gram is quoted at Rs 5,424 per quintal. Australian gram is priced at Rs 5,350 per quintal at Mundra port and Rs 5,375 per quintal at Kandla port.
softening of market prices
“About 3.5 lakh tonnes of Australian gram is still in the port and another 3-4 ships are still to come here,” Upadhyay said, adding that millers prefer to buy premium quality imported gram as the yield of pulses is higher and the color and grain size is much better than Indian gram.
According to Agriculture Ministry data, the all-India average wholesale market prices of gram have declined from Rs 5621.66 per quintal on February 2 to Rs 5,396.47 on February 9. The government has announced an MSP of Rs 5,875 per quintal for the 2026-27 Rabi marketing season. According to Agriculture Ministry data, gram production during 2024-25 was 111.14 lakh tonnes.
Till February 9, gram has been planted in 96.20 lakh hectares, which is 5.45 percent more than last year’s 91.22 lakh hectares.
N Kalantri of Kalantri Food Products in Latur said, “Market arrivals have peaked in Karnataka, while arrivals in Maharashtra are increasing. However, demand is low. Unless MSP operations start, prices will remain low.”
The Agriculture Ministry has recently approved the procurement of 1.01 lakh tonnes of gram at MSP in Karnataka.
1 million tonnes of gram was imported
Upadhyay said the broad consensus in the trade is that the crop will be bigger than last year due to more area and favorable climate in growing conditions.
Australian domestic gram prices for delivery to India have averaged $531 a tonne in the last four weeks. This is 3 percent more than a month ago. Prices had fallen to $500 a tonne at the beginning of the year before rising.
Additionally, India has imported nearly one million tonnes of gram from Australia, with shipments increasing to 5.9 lakh tonnes in December. Overall, imports during October-December 2025 stood at 9.95 lakh tonnes.
Published on February 16, 2026
