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Informist, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025

 

By Pallavi Singhal

 

NEW DELHI – The government is not considering any hike in import duty on chana at present, a senior government official said, dismissing market speculation of a sharp increase in the levy. There have been rumours in the market that the government is considering increasing the import duty on chana to 30%. 

 

"There are no discussions about it (about a duty hike). I don't understand why the market is circulating 30%," the official told Informist. Currently, chana is subject to a 10% import duty, which applies until Mar. 31.

 

Traders have been closely tracking the policy response to chana amid weak prices and surplus availability stemming from Australian imports. India imported a total of 1.6 million tonnes of chana in 2024-25 (Apr–Mar), of which over 1.4 million tonnes came from Australia alone, according to commerce ministry data.

 

Chana imports till September in 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) have been low at about 47,500 tonnes as domestic arrivals during these months keep the market steady. In Australia, the chana crop is typically sown between May and July and harvested between October and November. Typically, Australian chana shipments begin arriving in India from November onwards.

 

On Wednesday, chana prices in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were steady at INR 5,750–5,800 per 100 kg, said Aniket Mehta, a local trader. There is some demand as buyers are taking advantage of lower prices, he said, but added that the buying interest is not strong enough to lift prices.

 

"The ongoing imports of cheaper chana from Australia are also putting pressure on prices," Mehta said, adding that two more vessels carrying Australian chana are currently on their way to India and are expected to arrive by the end of December. In the medium term, he said, prices will depend on the landing cost of these shipments and the overall domestic demand situation.

 

The minimum support price (MSP) for chana is INR 5,650 per 100 kg, which is currently below spot market rates, offering limited price support to farmers amid ample supplies.  End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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