India is the world's largest producer — and consumer — of pulses. That combination makes the pulses complex one of the most closely followed corners of the Indian commodity market, and it is where contracts like chana and guar earn their importance.
Chana (chickpea) is the country's largest pulse crop and a staple of the rabi season. Guar is a different story: prized less as food and more for guar gum, an industrial thickener used in sectors from food to oil-and-gas, giving it an unusual demand profile. Both have long been flagship NCDEX contracts.
Despite vast domestic output, India still imports pulses in many years to bridge the gap between production and demand. That makes the market sensitive to monsoon-driven output swings, import policy and global prices — a balance that can shift sentiment fast.
For growers and traders, transparent futures in chana and guar aid price discovery and hedging in crops that are otherwise prone to sharp swings. For agribusiness, they are a window into demand and a tool for managing risk across the rabi cycle.
Figures are indicative and drawn from widely reported public sources. This article is general commentary, not financial advice.
For procurement, supply or partnership enquiries, write to our team directly.
Email info@hailler.com →