Russia has overtaken Canada as the largest exporter of yellow peas to India, a market previously dominated by the latter, according to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA). This shift in market dynamics mirrors Russia’s recent success in surpassing Canada in yellow pea exports to China, where Canada once held over 97 percent market share.
During the April-July period of the 2024-25 fiscal year, Russia exported 4.41 lakh tonnes (lt) of yellow peas to India. This figure exceeds the 4.01 lt Russia shipped to India throughout the entire 2023-24 fiscal year. In comparison, Canada exported 3.93 lt of yellow peas to India during the same April-July period, down from the 1.38 million tonnes it had shipped in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
A trade expert based in New Delhi noted that Russia has been aggressively expanding its yellow pea exports globally by offering competitive prices and allowing trade in Indian rupees. This, combined with lower logistical costs, has made Russia a strong competitor in the market. “Logistically, it is cheaper for India to import from Russia,” said the expert.
The financial figures also reflect Russia’s competitive edge. India spent $212.85 million on the 4.41 lt of yellow peas imported from Russia, while it spent $228.49 million on Canadian peas. For deliveries scheduled in October and November, Russia is pricing its yellow peas at $425 per tonne, cost and freight included, whereas Canada is offering the same at $460 per tonne for the same period.
Rahul Chauhan of Igrain observed that over the past two years, Russia’s production and export of yellow peas have surged to record highs. Previously, China had not been a significant buyer of Russian peas, which kept import volumes low. However, this situation has changed as Russia has become a more dominant player in the market.
Bimal Kothari, Chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), emphasized that market dynamics, particularly price, are the main factors driving the choice of imports, whether from Russia or Canada. “It all depends on the price,” Kothari said. “Russia is offering competitive rates, but we are receiving shipments from both countries. Whoever offers the better price, importers will buy from them.”
Kothari also pointed out that a large number of shipments for October have already been committed, with several vessels coming from both Russia and Canada. “Importers are focused on securing the best deal, and Russia’s competitiveness has made it a key player,” he added.
In addition to yellow peas, Russia has recently secured the right to supply lentils to India on a regular basis, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The agency cited the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), which received confirmation from India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Russian leguminous crop exports to India have grown dramatically, increasing 23-fold year-on-year to 5,45,000 tonnes between January and September 2024.
B Krishnamurthy, Managing Director of Four P International, explained that the momentum in pea imports was bolstered after the Indian government reduced the import duty on peas to zero from 35 percent for three months earlier this year. Extensions of the zero-duty period have led to further price drops, with the current zero-duty import provision available until December 31, 2024.
While Russia has become a strong competitor, Kothari noted that the proximity between Russia and India does not provide a significant freight advantage over Canada. Looking ahead, Kothari estimates that India’s yellow pea imports could range between 3.3 to 3.5 million tonnes by the end of 2024.
