Now Reading: Black Sea attacks halt Russian yellow pea exports to India
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Black Sea attacks halt Russian yellow pea exports to India
Russia's exports of yellow peas to India have stopped in the past two months after attacks on its Black Sea ports amid the war with Ukraine, lifting wholesale prices by over 10%. Wholesale prices have risen to ₹46 per kg from about ₹40, according to the Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA). Canada, the second-largest producer, has also raised prices as Russian shipments are squeezed.
Sunflower oil shipments from Ukraine and Russia are also disrupted. A 20,000-tonne shipment heading to India was cancelled, and the region's sunflower oil exports have dropped to about 50% of normal levels, said Sandeep Bajoria of the International Sunflower Oil Association. Prices are expected to rise due to extended shipping schedules.
The IPGA has requested Russian authorities to allow some cargo from northern Baltic Sea ports, but Russia is prioritising wheat shipments. Bimal Kothari, IPGA president, said yellow peas remain the cheapest pulse in India, and prices could drop by ₹4 to 5 per kg if imports from Russia resume.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The halt in Russian yellow pea shipments hits a key protein source for Indian households at a time when domestic pulse prices are already under pressure. While the IPGA says prices have risen moderately thanks to a 30% import duty cushion, the longer the disruption continues, the more the burden will shift to consumers. The government's immediate lever is a duty cut, but the source does not indicate any such move. The next concrete step is the IPGA's request to Russian authorities for access to northern ports, which has not yet yielded results.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
