Australia: Chickpea values dip as Indian demand plateaus after big crop

Australian chickpea prices have come under significant harvest pressure in spite of tariff-free access into India, the world's largest consumer of the pulse crop, for the first time since 2007. The Australian industry was upbeat about prospects this year when India removed heavy tariffs on imports in response to concerns about domestic supply. The tariff-free period will run to the end of March, meaning Australian exporters are trying to get as much volume out to India prior to the tariff-free period ending. However, a range of factors, including good Indian monsoon rain, leading to stronger prospects for the upcoming rabi crop, planted from October to December and harvested in March and April, increased competition from Russia and supply chain constraints in the form of a shortage of food grade containers are all keeping a lid on prices. Values have dropped, although prices still sit at historically high levels. Upcountry Queensland and northern NSW chickpea prices are now ...