Black gram, pigeon pea prices drop after reaching all-time high

The prices of black grams and pigeon peas dropped back from record highs on 5 February, on the back of the FOB price retreat.
The prices peaked at K3.5 million per tonne of black gram and K4.197 million per tonne of pigeon pea on 5 February. The prices plunged to K3.3 million for black grams and K4.027 million for pigeon peas on 9 February, showing a sharp drop of K200,000 for black grams and K170,000 for pigeon peas.
Myanmar shipped over 1.3 million tonnes of various pulses worth over US$1.123 billion over the past ten months of the current financial year 2023-2024 beginning 1 April, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar bagged over $1.47 billion from 1.9 million tonnes of pulses exports last FY 2022-2023.
Myanmar mainly exports black grams, green gram and pigeon peas to foreign markets. Black grams and pigeon peas are primarily shipped to India, while green grams are exported to China and Europe.
India has growing consumption requirements for black grams and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2021, India will import 250,000 tonnes of black grams and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026 FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that yearly quota.
Black grams, which India primarily purchases, are commonly found only in Myanmar. In contrast, according to the Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association, pigeon peas, green grams, and chickpeas are also grown in African countries and Australia. — NN/EM