The government on Monday extended the free import policy of urad by an year till March 31, 2026, following a shortfall in domestic production.

The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification in this regard on Monday, extending the duty-free urad imports. Per the current policy condition, the free import policy for urad was supposed to end on March 31, 2025.

Trade was expecting the extension of the duty-free urad imports considering the shortfall in domestic production. Per the second advance estimates, the urad production is expected to be lower at 17.99 lakh tonnes (lt) for the 2024-25 season for both kharif and rabi crops put together, down from 20.91 lt in the previous year.

“We were expecting the Govt to continue the duty free imports for another year. Our domestic requirement is around 30 lt, while our production is over 20 lt,” said Bimal Kothari, chairman, India Pulses and Grains Association.

“Urad will come from Myanmar and this year we are also expecting higher volumes from Brazil. Myanmar has got good crop. Imports from Brazil will be around 1.5 lakh tonnes,” Kothari said.

Prices of urad have eased and are slightly above the MSP and are stable, he added.

Higher imports

Urad imports in the current financial year for the period April-January are estimated at 6.73 lakh tonnes, higher than same period last year’s 5.10 lakh tonnes. The Government has already extended the import window for tur (Red gram) till March 31, 2026.

Also, the DGFT issued a notification extending the duty free imports of yellow peas on Monday. “Import of yellow peas is free without the minimum import price condition and without port restriction, subject to registration under online import monitoring system with immediate effect for all import consignments where bill of lading is issue on or before May 31, 2025,” it said.