STAT Communications Ag Market News

Softer Undertone in Chickpeas

PANAMA - Dec 22/17 - SNS -- International chickpea markets finished the week's trading with a softer undertone in the face of India's elimination of the duty exemption on chickpeas.

With the change, import duties revert back to the 30% basic duty set in 2007. India only uses one HS code for chickpeas, with the result import duties apply to all classes.

Local traders in India think this will force international markets for desi chickpeas to drop 10% to aorund U.S. $600 per metric ton (MT). Grower bids in Australia finished the week modestly lower, slipping 3% to U.S. $515 MT.

After the record rabi season harvests at the start of the year, it was clear India would need to import fewer pulses than in the past. Unless there is a weather disaster in February or March, India is looking at another record chickpea harvest.

Seeded area is on pace to reach 10.9 million hectares, up one million from last year's record. A return to average yields would see production advance from 9.33 to 9.92 million MT.

Only active subscribers can read all of this article.

If you are a subscriber, please log into the website.

If you are not a subscriber, click here to subscribe to this edition of the STAT website and to learn more about becoming a subscriber.