In a first since export sops, 2,500 tn chana on way to Bangladesh.

India is exporting 2,500 tn of chana to Bangladesh, in a first deal since the government approved the export incentive on chana. Government had announced a 7%-export incentive on chana or Bengal gram in March under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme. The deal (to export a total 2,500 tn chana) were contracted by a global grain company in a range of $640-$690 per tn, cost & freight basis, to be transported via rail.

Globally chana stocks are limited

Globally chana stocks are limited as Australia, the second largest producer of the pulse after India, is facing a severe drought this year which may see the output falling below 500,000 tn. In June, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences had forecast that the chana crop in the country in 2018-19 (Apr-Mar) may fall to 616,000 tn, down 40% from 1.03 mln tn seen in 2017-18. Currently, the price of the Australian chana is around $700 per tn for the old crop and $720 for the new crop that will be harvested soon.

Tur prices rise in Akola, unchanged in Kalaburagi.

Prices of tur in Akola rose because the commodity’s stock with NAFED, which was selling it in the open market, have reduced significantly. In Akola, the benchmark market for tur, prices were at 3,875-3,900 rupees per 100 kg, up 25-50 rupees. The arrivals were steady at 750-800 bags (1 bag=100 kg). In Kalaburagi, a key market, prices were unchanged and arrivals were pegged unchanged.

Pulses import Jul at Chennai port up 6-fold on month on high urad buys

Import of pulses at Chennai port rose over sixfold on month in July to 41,856 tn because of higher buys of urad. Imports of urad increased substantially to 32,184 tn in July from 3,888 tn in June and 27,120 tn in the corresponding period last year. Imports of some pulses have seen a revival over the past two months with the start of the new financial year. The government had last year imposed quantitative restrictions annually on tur, urad and moong to curb cheaper imports into the country. Total imports of tur into the country were restricted to 200,000 tn and that of urad and moong were limited to 150,000 tn each.

France Jun pea exports down 6% on month at 16,775 tn.

Export of peas by France was down 6% on month in June at 16,775 tn. On year, however, the exports were up 24%. As of June-end, inventories of peas in France were estimated at 285,495 tn, down 2% on year. Belgium was the most important destination, taking 10,560 tn. Netherlands was the second most important destination at 3,120 tn, followed by Italy at 1,535 tn and Spain at 587 tn. India is one of the largest importers of peas in the world, but due to imposition of import duty last year, imports have declined substantially.

Kharif paddy area dn 4.2% on yr at 26.3 mln ha.

The area under the paddy crop across the country this kharif season was at 26.27 mln ha as of Thursday, down 4.2% on year. The area under paddy was also below the average of 26.93 mln ha for the period. Though paddy sowing in the country was lower on year, the lag in acreage has reduced from over 12% a week ago. The fall in acreage can be attributed to lower sowing in top producers Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Weak monsoon rains in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh also contributed to the fall in acreage.

India Apr-Jun basmati rice exports fall 7%, pulses surge.

Indias export of pulses have jumped 115.3% on year to 100,982 tn in Apr-Jun, while exports of other cereals also surged 180.1% to 431,562 tn during the same period. However, basmati rise export fell 7% on year to 1.17 mln tn, while non-basmati rice exports rose to nearly 2 mln tn, up 12.6% on year. Indias export of basmati took a hit after the European Union, a major importer, had reduced the permissible limit of tricyclazole residue in imported rice to 0.01 part per mln from 1 part per mln allowed, effective Jan 1.

India Apr-Jun pulses jump 115 % on year 100,982 tn.

The government removed export curbs on pulses in November after the domestic production rose. Indias export of pulses have jumped 115.3% on year to 100,982 tn in Apr-Jun, while exports of other cereals also surged 180.1% to 431,562 tn during the same period. However, basmati rise export fell 7% on year to 1.17 mln tn, while non-basmati rice exports rose to nearly 2 mln tn, up 12.6% on year. Indias export of basmati took a hit after the European Union, a major importer, had reduced the permissible limit of tricyclazole residue in imported rice to 0.01 part per mln from 1 part per mln allowed, effective Jan 1.

Moong acreage up 2.5% on year at 2.98 mln ha.

Indias moong acreage was at 2.98 mln ha, up 2.5% on year, led by a rise in the area in Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, the largest grower, the area under the crop jumped 11.9% on year to 1.68 mln ha. Initial rainfall in the state has been good, which has boosted sowing. The state has recorded normal rainfall during Jun 1- Aug 5. However, the acreage was down in some states as farmers have sown more paddy, cotton and soybean.

Onion prices down in Lasalgaon on quality concerns.

Prices of onion fell in the key market of Lasalgaon, Maharashtra, as quality concerns restricted demand from domestic stockists. In Lasalgaon, onion was sold at 850-1,037 rupees per 100 kg, down 100 rupees. Arrivals in Lasalgaon were unchanged at 1,100-1,200 trucks, each carrying 1.5-2.0 tn of onion. In Pimpalgaon, another key market, prices were at 900-1,200 rupees per 100 kg, down 50 rupees. Arrivals were steady at 900-1,250 trucks.

Tur prices flat in Akola even as arrivals rise.

Prices of tur in Akola, the benchmark market for the commodity, were flat despite a rise in arrivals. Arrivals rose due to anticipation of demand in the coming days as well as the fact that farmers need extra cash for sowing. In Akola, tur was quoted as 3,700-3,750 rupees per 100 kg. In Kalaburagi, a key market for the commodity, prices were unchanged at 3,700-3,925 rupees per 100 kg and arrivals were steady at 2,000 bags.

Thailand raises 2018 rice export forecast to 11 mln T.

Thailand expects to export 11 million tonnes of rice worth $5.6 billion in 2018, higher than an initial forecast. Thailand, the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India, initially expected to export 9.5 million tonnes of rice this year. The association cited growing demand from importing countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines, and a weaker baht making Thai rice more competitive, as factors for the expected higher export amount. Thailand exported a record 11.63 million tonnes in 2017.

Pakistan cultivated hybrid rice over 800,000 hectares of land across the country.

In order to boost the local output of rice production, Pakistan has cultivated the hybrid rice over 800,000 hectares of land across the country. Pakistan is focusing more on agriculture to fetch foreign exchanges via exports and rice is one of the popular options to do that, the hybrid rice cultivation will give boost to local production as well as the income of small-scale and medium landholders, the area cultivated for hybrid rice is increasing gradually and it will replace the traditional seed cultivation.

Britannia, ITC to hike product prices on account of rising wheat price.

Sharp short-term rise in wheat prices is burdening manufacturers of products like atta and biscuits, who, in turn, pass on the increased cost to the customer. Britannia is considering price hike while ITC, another big procurer of wheat, is also mulling similar move in Aashirvaad Atta and its variants. Smaller manufacturers of wheat and other products like bread etc may also be forced to pass on the increased burden. The prices rose due to lower acreage and crop damage in some areas. Also, the government procurement has been higher than estimated.

Russia resumes wheat supplies to Brazil.

Grain export in 2018-2019 agricultural year is expected at the level of 44-45 mln tonnes. Russia has started supplying wheat to Brazil for the first time in eight years. The first lot of Russian wheat amounting to 26.2 thousand tonnes was shipped to Brazil from the Kaliningrad Region for the first time in eight years.

Ukraine wheat exports up.

Ukraine has exported 3.4 million tonnes of grain since the start of the 2018/19 season on July 1, down from 3.5 mln tonnes last year.

Chana increases at delhi mandi.

Good buying emerged in chana prices due to limited supplies. The spot prices were trading in the range of Rs 4350-4400 per quintal with total arrivals of 20 motors. As per latest data compiled by Ministry of Agriculture, the pulses area lagged by 3.90% to stand at 115 lakh hectares.

As tur acreage rises, farmers push for curbs on imports.

As a larger area comes under tur or arhar (red gram) in the ongoing kharif sowing season, growers — in anticipation of a higher output — want the Centre to curb all forms of imports to keep prices stable during the harvest season. The acreage under tur as on August 3 has exceeded the year-ago period’s levels as farmers have brought a larger area in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, among others, under cultivation. While the acreage under tur and moong has seen a rise, the area under all pulses has been trailing the year-ago figure by around four per cent at around 75 lakh hectares. Tur accounts for over half the acreage under pulses. Across major markets in the key producing States of Karnataka and Maharashtra, tur prices are hovering between ?3,500 and ?3,800 a quintal, much lower than the minimum support price (MSP), on ample supplies.

India soybean area up 11% on yr at 11 mln ha.

The area under soybean across the country was at around 11 mln ha. Sowing of the oilseed is underway in many states and in a week, the acreage may exceed the normal for the season–11.3 mln ha, based on the average for the past five years. Higher sowing in key growing areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, the top growers, due to normal rains had pulled up the overall area under the crop in the country. In Madhya Pradesh, soybean acreage increased 13% on year to 5.3 mln ha, as planting gained pace due to attractive prices in spot markets.