Brazil Expected to Begin Pigeon-Pea Exports to India in Late 2026
Brazil is expected to begin supplying pigeon peas to India in October-November 2026, with initial shipments estimated at 20,000-30,000 tonnes. The new origin could diversify Indian supply, but the projected volume remains modest compared with imports of 579,000 tonnes during the first seven months of the current financial year.
First shipments planned for October-November
Brazil is expected to begin exporting pigeon peas, known in India as tur or arhar, to the Indian market in October-November 2026. Whalesbook reports that the first shipments are projected at between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes, creating another overseas source for a pulse central to Indian household consumption.
The planned trade flow would extend Brazil’s participation in India’s pulse market after its entry as a supplier of black matpe. For Indian importers and processors, the additional origin could reduce reliance on a small group of established suppliers and provide another procurement option when weather disrupts domestic output or regional availability.
Imports rise as weather threatens the crop
The opening comes as India faces uncertainty over its domestic pigeon-pea harvest. The area planted with the crop has increased to 4.725 million hectares, according to Whalesbook. However, deficient monsoon rainfall has produced drought-like conditions in Karnataka and Maharashtra, two major producing states.
These concerns have already affected trading. Pigeon-pea prices increased by ₹50-₹100 per quintal in recent sessions, the publication reported. Weather developments and final production estimates will therefore remain more important for near-term price direction than the Brazilian shipments, which are not expected until late 2026.
India’s dependence on foreign supply has also deepened. Imports during the first seven months of the current financial year rose 44% to 579,000 tonnes. Mozambique was the largest supplier at 218,000 tonnes, followed by Myanmar and Tanzania. The figures show that the anticipated Brazilian volume would represent only a limited share of India’s recent import requirement.
A useful new origin, but limited immediate relief
At the lower end of the forecast, 20,000 tonnes would equal about 3.5% of the 579,000 tonnes imported in the seven-month period. At the upper end, 30,000 tonnes would equal roughly 5.2%. The comparison is not a forecast of annual market share because the periods differ, but it illustrates the initial scale of the proposed flow.
Brazilian supply could still carry commercial value beyond its first-year tonnage. A successful start would allow exporters, traders and Indian buyers to test quality, freight economics and delivery reliability. It could also give India greater flexibility during shortages in existing origins, particularly if Brazilian harvest timing complements supply from Africa and Myanmar.
The effect on consumer prices will depend on the size and timing of arrivals, the final Indian harvest and conditions in competing exporting countries. The reported 20,000-30,000 tonnes alone is unlikely to offset a major domestic shortfall. Its more immediate significance is diversification: India would gain another source while Brazil would obtain access to a large, import-dependent pulse market.
Market participants will now watch rainfall in Karnataka and Maharashtra, final Indian production figures and the practical arrangements for the first Brazilian cargoes. Those factors will determine whether the new trade route develops into a recurring supply channel and whether it can materially influence tur-dal availability after 2026.
