The moong market is experiencing significant tightening as fundamentals strengthen across the pulse complex. Current wholesale rates across India stand at ₹7,161 per quintal as of August 18, 2026, with prices showing stability after recent volatility. According to latest APMC market data, Tanduru Apmc in Vikarabad district, Telangana commands the highest rates at ₹13,518 per quintal, while Beed Apmc in Maharashtra trades at ₹9,146 per quintal and Gadag district maintains premium levels at ₹8,600 per quintal. The minimum support price of ₹8,780 per quintal continues to provide a floor for market transactions, with quality differentiation creating significant premiums across various grades and districts. Over the past 7 days, the average price has moved +1% from ₹7,115/quintal to today's ₹7,161/quintal, with markets ranging between ₹2,290 and ₹17,300 per quintal during this period.
The harvest of moong (green gram) has begun in Karnataka with arrivals picking up in major markets. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, arrivals in Gadag reached around 12,000 quintals on Tuesday, while Bagalkot recorded approximately 5,000 quintals of new crop. The Centre has announced a minimum support price of ₹8,780 per quintal for the crop. Market activity is being driven by selective farmer selling in superior grades, with dal mills prioritizing bright, low-defect moong for premium dal production, particularly ahead of the festive consumption window. Recent APMC data shows 76 markets reporting prices today, with a 157% spread between the lowest and highest rate - a wide range that usually rewards comparing mandis before selling.
Despite better-than-expected arrivals, quality issues are affecting market dynamics. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, the moisture content in new crop remains higher at 18-21 per cent compared to government norms of 12 per cent. Machine-harvested moong is ruling at ₹7,000-8,500 per quintal due to dull quality and higher foreign material content, while hand-picked moong commands ₹8,600-10,300 per quintal. However, CMB News reports that availability of superior-grade moong is gradually shrinking, even as average-quality grain remains accessible, amplifying the quality spread where top-end moong attracts intense competition while ordinary grades see comparatively muted interest.
Moong acreage has declined significantly across major producing states during the ongoing kharif season. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, moong acreage is down 4 per cent nationally at 32.05 lakh hectares as of August 14, compared to 33.42 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year. In Karnataka, the decline is 12 per cent at 3.66 lakh hectares (down from 4.16 lakh hectares), while Maharashtra saw a 30 per cent reduction at 1.45 lakh hectares. CMB News reports that combined national area under tur and moong is around 4% below last year, leaving less margin for weather or yield shocks and keeping traders wary of tightening supplies into late season.
Weather conditions are creating additional challenges for the moong crop, with early-season rainfall deficits already cutting moong area. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, rains and cloudy weather are affecting post-harvest drying of produce around Gadag, posing challenges for both growers and processors. CMB News notes that early-season rainfall deficits in Maharashtra and Karnataka have already cut moong area, and further moisture stress or erratic late monsoon behavior could compress yields in these deficit regions. In contrast, the main North American lentil regions currently face no acute weather disruptions, with scattered heat episodes within seasonal norms.
While domestic moong markets tighten, export lentil markets remain stable to slightly easier. According to CMB News, recent FOB offers from Canada stand around EUR 1.26–1.30/kg for Eston and Laird-type green lentils and roughly EUR 2.15–2.20/kg for red football types, with little week-on-week movement. Chinese small green lentils are currently offered nearer EUR 0.98–1.05/kg FOB, having eased modestly over the past week as previous premiums for organic and high-purity lots have narrowed. This leaves lentils attractively priced versus firming moong, limiting near-term upside despite higher pulse demand in South Asia.
