Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Commodity GroupPulses (dry legumes)
Scientific NameVigna radiata (L.) Wilczek
PerishabilityLow
Growing Conditions- Tropical to subtropical production ecology; widely cultivated across Asia.
- Relatively dry tropical/subtropical areas are commonly suitable; crop performance is sensitive to frost and prolonged waterlogging in many production systems.
Main VarietiesGreen-seeded mung bean commercial types (whole-bean trade), Yellow-seeded mung bean commercial types (marketed as “yellow gram” in some contexts), Split/dehulled mung (dal) vs whole mung (commercial presentation forms)
Consumption Forms- Whole dried beans cooked in savory dishes
- Split/dehulled “dal” preparations
- Sprouts
- Flour and starch-based products (including transparent noodles)
Grading Factors- Moisture content (destination- and storage-risk sensitive)
- Extraneous matter (including mineral matter and insect fragments)
- Defect/damage rates (broken, discolored, pest-damaged seeds)
- Seed size and color uniformity
- Pesticide residue and mycotoxin compliance where regulated/tested
Planting to HarvestShort-duration annual pulse crop (quick maturity), with timing varying by variety and production system.
Market
Dried yellow gram is commonly traded as mung bean (Vigna radiata), a pulse used both as whole beans and in split/dehulled form (often marketed as yellow “dal” in South Asia). Global trade flows for the closest HS-6 proxy frequently used in customs data (HS 071331) are concentrated in Asia, with Myanmar the dominant exporting origin and India and China the largest import markets. Demand is supported by staple culinary use in South Asia and by processing demand for sprouts, starch-based noodles, and pulse ingredients in East and Southeast Asia. Commercial market dynamics are strongly shaped by import policy shifts in major destination markets and by storage-quality outcomes (especially insect damage and foreign matter control) that determine exportability.
Major Producing Countries- 인도Major cultivation and consumption center for mung bean (often marketed as green gram/yellow gram), with both whole-bean and split “dal” demand.
- 미얀마 [버마]Key production and export origin for mung bean; multiple sources describe strong export orientation for Myanmar’s mung bean value chain.
- 중국Major cultivation and a leading import market; significant downstream use for sprouts and processed foods.
- 태국Important Asian cultivation and processing geography for mung bean food uses, including sprouts.
Major Exporting Countries- 미얀마 [버마]Largest recorded exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024 (note: HS 071331 covers Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo and may aggregate both).
- 우즈베키스탄Top-tier exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; frequently supplies East Asian demand.
- 중국Exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; also a major importer, implying two-way flows tied to processing and re-export.
- 인도Exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024, alongside being the largest importer; flows vary with domestic balance and policy.
- 호주Top-tier exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; exports are supported by commercial-grade sorting and food-safety programs.
Major Importing Countries- 인도Largest recorded importer in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024 (note: HS 071331 covers Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo and may aggregate both).
- 중국Second-largest recorded importer in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; key demand center for food use and processing.
- 인도네시아Significant importer in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024 within broader Southeast Asian consumption and processing demand.
- 일본Notable importer in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; demand includes food uses and controlled-quality supply chains.
- 미국Meaningful importer in UN Comtrade/WITS for HS 071331 in 2024; demand includes specialty food retail and sprouting uses.
Specification
Major VarietiesMung bean (Vigna radiata) — green-seeded commercial types, Mung bean (Vigna radiata) — yellow-seeded commercial types (often marketed as “yellow gram”), Split/dehulled mung (moong dal) vs whole mung (commercial presentation forms)
Physical Attributes- Small dry pulse seed traded as whole, split, and/or dehulled forms; visual uniformity and seedcoat condition influence buyer acceptance.
- Seed color is a key market attribute (green-seeded types for whole-bean trade; yellow appearance commonly associated with dehulled/split product forms).
Compositional Metrics- Moisture content is a core contractual and safety parameter for pulses; Codex guidance links moisture limits to transport and storage conditions.
- Contaminant compliance commonly references Codex maximum residue limits (pesticides) and applicable mycotoxin limits for pulses.
Grades- Whole vs split/dehulled and “sprouting grade” vs general food grade are common commercial distinctions; buyer specs often tighten limits for foreign matter and insect presence.
- Codex-aligned defect categories for pulses (e.g., broken pulses, discolored seeds, and extraneous matter) are frequently used as trade references.
Packaging- Pack in food-safe containers that safeguard hygienic and organoleptic quality; clean, sturdy sacks that are strongly sewn or sealed are a common bulk format.
- Retail packs are market-specific; bulk trade commonly uses bagged product for containerized shipment.
ProcessingWhole dried mung beans are commonly further processed by cleaning, grading, dehulling, and splitting into “dal” forms; split product trades as a staple ingredient for cooking.Mung bean can be milled to flour or processed for starch used in transparent noodles and other foods; sprouts are a major downstream food use in multiple Asian markets.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest at physiological maturity → field drying → threshing → cleaning (removal of extraneous matter) → grading/sorting (size, color, defect removal) → bagging/bulk packing → storage and insect control (e.g., fumigation or hermetic storage) → container shipment → import inspection and re-cleaning as required → downstream splitting/dehulling (where applicable) → retail/foodservice distribution.
Demand Drivers- Staple pulse consumption in South Asia (whole-bean and split “dal” formats).
- Sprout production and fresh-food applications in East and Southeast Asia.
- Processing demand for mung-bean flour/starch and derived foods (including transparent noodles).
Temperature- No cold chain is required for dried product, but temperature and humidity control matter for quality preservation; moisture management is critical to reduce mold risk and limit storage pest pressure.
Atmosphere Control- Hermetic storage can suppress bruchid development by shifting package headspace gases (lower O₂ and higher CO₂), reducing insect damage compared with conventional woven polypropylene bags.
Shelf Life- Storage pests (bruchids) can drive rapid quality loss and severe weight/seed-damage outcomes in legumes if storage controls are inadequate; protective storage practices are key to maintaining exportable quality over time.
Risks
Supply Concentration HighGlobal trade for the closest HS proxy commonly used for “yellow gram”/mung trade (HS 071331) is highly concentrated in one origin: Myanmar is the top reported exporter by value and volume in 2024. Disruptions affecting Myanmar’s export system (political instability, port/logistics constraints, trade finance) can rapidly tighten availability and raise prices in the largest import markets (notably India and China).Dual/tri-source procurement beyond Myanmar (e.g., Uzbekistan, Australia, China, India where available), maintain validated alternative suppliers, and hold buffer stocks in destination markets during peak policy/transport risk periods.
Storage Pests HighBruchid beetles (Callosobruchus spp.) are among the most destructive stored-pulse pests and can cause heavy to total losses in mung bean under poor storage conditions, directly reducing exportable volume and triggering quality rejections (holes, powdering, contamination).Adopt hermetic storage and/or validated fumigation programs with resistance monitoring; enforce moisture control and sanitation through storage and packing.
Plant Disease MediumMungbean yellow mosaic disease (a begomovirus complex vectored by whitefly) is widely reported across South Asia and can cause severe yield penalties, contributing to supply volatility and uneven quality in affected seasons.Increase use of resistant varieties where available, strengthen integrated vector management, and track outbreak signals in major producing regions.
Food Safety MediumExport lots must meet buyer and regulatory limits for contaminants and hygiene parameters, including pesticide residues and mycotoxins, and must manage extraneous matter and insect fragments—areas explicitly covered by Codex pulse standards and frequently checked at import.Implement Codex-aligned cleaning/inspection, verify residue compliance with testing programs, and use GMP/HACCP-based controls in cleaning, splitting, and packing operations.
Trade Policy MediumDemand is concentrated in a small number of import markets (India and China lead HS 071331 imports in 2024). Import policy shifts and restrictions in major destinations can quickly reroute trade, depress farmgate prices in exporting origins, and create short-term availability gaps elsewhere.Monitor destination tariff/quota and SPS changes, diversify destination exposure, and structure contracts with policy-change clauses where feasible.
Sustainability- Stored-pest control reliance (fumigants/insecticides) can elevate environmental and residue-management scrutiny in export supply chains.
- As a legume, mung bean contributes to nitrogen fixation in cropping systems, supporting lower synthetic nitrogen requirements in rotations where practiced.
Labor & Social- Smallholder-heavy production systems and export-oriented value chains (notably in Myanmar) heighten sensitivity to domestic disruptions and trade-finance/logistics constraints.
- Worker health concerns can arise from intensive chemical control practices used against storage pests in pulses where safer alternatives are not adopted.
FAQ
What is “dried yellow gram” in international trade terms?In English botanical and food references, “yellow gram” commonly refers to mung bean (Vigna radiata), which is also called green gram. In trade, it is often sold as dried whole beans and as split/dehulled forms that appear yellow.
Which countries dominate global import and export flows for this product’s main HS proxy?Using UN Comtrade/WITS HS 071331 (which covers Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo and may aggregate both), Myanmar is the top reported exporter in 2024, while India and China are the largest reported importers in 2024.
What quality parameters most often determine whether shipments clear buyer specs?Moisture, extraneous matter (including mineral matter and insect fragments), and compliance with contaminant limits (pesticide residues and applicable mycotoxin limits) are core parameters referenced in Codex guidance for pulses and commonly reflected in buyer contracts.
What is a major post-harvest risk for dried yellow gram/mung beans?Bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus spp.) are a major storage pest of legumes and can cause severe damage and losses in mung bean during storage if controls are weak. Hermetic storage and validated insect-control programs are widely used mitigation approaches.