Pulses: Mexico to import dry beans duty-free

By Dave Sims, Commodity News Service Canada

Winnipeg, May 4 – The Mexican government has decided to import 100,000 tonnes of dry beans duty-free. According to a report from the USDA, the beans will be taken from the country’s most-favoured trading partners.
Chickpea prices in India have softened in recent days due to a lack of physical demand, according to a report in the Hindu Business Line. The news comes at a critical time for farmers in the country who are having trouble getting the government to buy their crops at minimum support prices.
The government of Bangladesh is warning retailers not to try and manipulate the pulse market ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. The country’s commerce secretary told a group of business leaders that truckloads of chickpeas and other crops will be transported to divisional cities and towns ahead of time to ensure steady supplies during the holiday, according to a report on The Daily Sun. In 2017, Ramadan is set to begin at the end of May.
Bids for kabuli chickpeas (10mm) on the Prairies are holding steady at 67 to 68 cents per pound, according to the latest information from the Prairie Ag Hotwire.
Navy beans are also keeping firm and are listed at 37 cents per pound.
Green peas in Washington and Idaho fell by 30 cents over the past week to C$8.22-$8.63 per bushel.