Firm Tur Market and Softening Lentil Offers Create Mixed Pulse Signals

Tur prices in India are firming across key mandis on tight domestic availability and seasonal demand, while global lentil offers—especially from Canada and China—are easing or flat. This divergence creates a mixed pulse complex: stronger regional prices for pigeon peas, but more competitive export values for lentils that could cap any sharp upside in international markets. Indian pulse markets are currently led by strength in tur, with mills stepping up procurement into the festive season as local arrivals remain limited and stocks of good-quality material are not excessive. At the same time, imported African tur continues to supplement supply, keeping traders wary of overextending positions. In contrast, lentils see more comfortable global availability: Canadian harvest is underway with mostly normal yields and sizeable carryover, while Chinese green lentil FOB offers have been trending lower, offering some relief to import-dependent buyers such as India, where masoor imports have risen strongly in the first half of 2026.

Prices

In India, tur (pigeon pea) prices have risen across major centres. In Delhi, Lemon tur has gained about ₹50 to roughly ₹8,125–8,150 per quintal, while Mumbai’s new-crop Lemon tur also added ₹50 to trade near ₹7,875–7,900 per quintal. Processing hubs such as Katni, Indore and Solapur are reporting similar firm undertones, reflecting stronger mill demand and tight near-term availability.

By contrast, international lentil prices are broadly stable to softer. Recent Canadian indications put old-crop red lentils and large green lentils around USD 0.22–0.24/lb, with small greens closer to USD 0.17–0.19/lb, as the new crop looms and ample carryover weighs on sentiment.  In China, FOB Beijing offers for small green lentils have eased over the past month, with conventional product moving from roughly EUR 1.07/kg down to about EUR 1.01/kg equivalent, and organic lots from about EUR 1.22/kg to around EUR 1.09/kg.

Supply & Demand

Domestic tur supply in India is tight in the near term. Arrivals are limited and stocks of good-quality tur are not considered excessive, which is underpinning prices despite ongoing inflows of African origin material. Tanzanian tur is quoted around ₹6,775–6,875 per quintal in Mumbai, while Mozambique-origin product is near ₹5,800, offering a lower-priced but quality-variable alternative to local stock.

Dal mills are expected to increase purchases as the festive consumption period advances, reinforcing demand-side support. At the same time, India’s broader pulse balance shows strong import reliance: masoor (lentil) imports in particular have risen sharply, with official and trade data indicating lentil inflows up more than 50% year-on-year in the first half of 2026.  This rising import share means global lentil supply conditions in Canada, Australia and China are directly shaping Indian and global price risks.

In Canada, early harvest reports from Saskatchewan and Alberta point to largely normal lentil yields, with few major weather or disease problems so far.  However, significant carryover from previous seasons is dampening nearby demand as buyers remain patient. Australia has recently benefited from favourable rainfall, supporting expectations for a solid red lentil crop, adding another layer of supply comfort to the international market. 

Fundamentals

For tur, fundamentals are skewed tight in India: constrained domestic arrivals, modest but steady inflows of African-origin cargoes, and rising festive-season mill demand. This combination is currently keeping prices firm to slightly higher across Delhi, Mumbai, Katni, Indore, Solapur, Akola and Nagpur. Market participants emphasize that any shift in import volumes or government policy (tariffs, stock limits, or procurement) could quickly alter this balance.

For lentils, the global picture is more comfortable. Canada is facing average yields plus sizeable stocks, while Australia’s outlook has improved thanks to timely rainfall. Together with softer Chinese FOB offers, this is pressuring export values and encouraging importers like India to expand masoor purchases. Meanwhile, domestic Indian lentil (masoor) prices are trading moderately above the government MSP, reflecting firm consumption but no acute shortage.  Overall, lentil fundamentals point to range-bound to slightly softer international prices unless weather or policy shocks emerge.

Macroeconomic conditions are mixed: India’s wider merchandise imports remain robust, but pulse import values have risen far less than volumes, suggesting that global pulse prices, including lentils, remain comparatively low in historical terms.  This cost environment favours continued import demand, especially if domestic pulses such as tur stay relatively expensive versus landed masoor.

Weather Outlook

Short-term weather forecasts for Saskatchewan, a core lentil-growing region, indicate predominantly sunny and seasonally warm conditions around Regina in the coming days, with daytime highs in the mid-20s to high-20s Celsius and limited rain.  These conditions are favourable for ongoing harvest progress and grain drying, reducing near-term production risk for Canadian lentils.

In Australia, recent and ongoing rainfall across key pulse belts has improved soil moisture and crop prospects, notably for red lentils.  Barring a sudden turn toward excess moisture or late-season frost, weather is currently a supportive factor for global lentil supply and a bearish one for prices.

Trading Outlook

• Importers (South Asia, MENA): With Canadian and Chinese lentil offers under pressure and weather supportive, consider scaling into forward purchases for Q4 2026–Q1 2027 coverage, especially in red and small green lentils, while maintaining flexibility for potential further downside.
• Dal mills in India: For tur, maintain only moderate length; firm domestic prices rest on limited arrivals and seasonal demand, but any acceleration of African imports or policy intervention could cap upside. For masoor, opportunistic substitution toward imported lentils remains attractive while global prices are soft.
• Producers (Canada, Australia): Given normal yields and heavy carryover, consider active hedging on rallies, especially in large greens, and focus on quality differentiation, as premiums for top-grade lentils are likely to widen in an otherwise well-supplied market.

3-Day Price Indication (Directional, in EUR)

• FOB China small green lentils: Slight downward to sideways bias as export competition remains strong.
• FOB Canada green and red lentils: Mostly sideways near current levels, with mild downside risk as harvest advances.
• Indian domestic masoor (converted to EUR): Stable to marginally softer versus tur, supported by strong imports and comfortable stocks.
• Indian tur (for context): Mildly firm bias in the near term, driven by seasonal consumption and constrained local stocks.