India’s urad imports during calendar year 2025 to cross 1 million tonnes due to shortfall in domestic supplies as crops were affected by erratic weather patterns. Photo Credit: iStockphoto
India’s urad (black gram) imports from Brazil have increased by at least 25 per cent this calendar year as growers in the South American producing country are likely to increase their crop size. During 2025, India imported more than 2.37 lakh tonnes of urad from Brazil.
“This year we will see huge quantity of urad imports from Brazil. I am expecting at least 3 lakh tonnes of imports from the May-June crop,” said Bimal Kothari, president of India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA).
Brazilian farmers sow urad during February-March and harvest the crop in 90 days. “We could see at least 25 percent more imports into Brazil,” Kothari said, adding that Brazilian producers have received good prices last year and are expanding areas. “They are expecting a good crop and they have already sold well. Last year they got a good price. I am sure they will have a very big crop this year,” Kothari said, based on his conversations with Brazilian growers last week.
domestic shortage
Commenting on domestic supplies, Kothari said, “There is definitely a shortage in urad production this year too. Prices have also increased but we have seen improvement in the last few days.” Imported FAQ Urad prices are hovering around the Minimum Support Price.
According to IPGA Market Update, imported urad prices declined for the second consecutive week ended February 21 as sellers remained active and supply pressure increased due to continuous arrivals from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while demand remained weak and mills bought on need basis. Near-term market price fluctuations will depend on Myanmar export prices, shipment volumes, pace of domestic arrivals of the new crop in Andhra and currency movements among other factors.
Brazil, which has increased urad production in recent years, is likely to emerge as a major source for India’s urad imports after Myanmar. Brazilian urad exports to India have seen a sharp rise, from around 4,100 tonnes during calendar 2023.
Imports increased by 41%
India’s urad imports during calendar year 2025 crossed 1 million tonnes due to shortfall in domestic supplies as crops were affected by erratic weather patterns. India’s urad import increased by 41 percent to 10.67 lakh tonnes during 2025 from 7.58 lakh tonnes last year. India’s urad imports from Myanmar during 2025 were 8.09 lakh tonnes, while those from Brazil were 2.37 lakh tonnes and other producers including African countries contributed the remaining 20,996 tonnes. Import of urad in the country is currently duty free till the end of March this year.
According to the first advance estimate, India’s 2025-26 kharif urad production declined to 12.05 lakh tonnes from 13.41 lakh tonnes last year. During 2024-25, India’s total urad production stood at 13.41 lakh tonnes (13.41 lakh tonnes during Kharif, 5.53 lakh tonnes during Rabi and 3.48 lakh tonnes during summer crop season).
During the 2025-26 Rabi season, urad was sown in about 6.06 lakh hectares by the end of January, marginally higher than 5.67 lakh hectares last year. In the current summer season, urad has been sown in about 0.25 lakh hectares till February 20, up from 0.19 lakh hectares a year ago.
Published on February 23, 2026
