Buying Pulses in Bulk: Toor, Chana, Moong, Urad and Masoor
Pulses wholesale in India: who buys toor, chana, moong, urad and masoor, whole or dal, polished or not, what sets the price, crop timing and imports.
By PingB2B·Updated 6 October 2026
Short answer
India's bulk pulse trade centres on toor, chana, moong, urad and masoor. Dal mills buy whole grain; kitchens, retailers and packers buy split dal, polished or unpolished. Price follows origin, grain size, polish, crop timing and import policy. Order by pulse, form, polish, specification, quantity and delivery city.
1. Who buys it and what they order
| Buyer | What they order | What they check |
|---|---|---|
| Dal mills | Whole toor, chana, moong, urad or masoor | Grain size, moisture, dal recovery |
| Hotels, caterers and messes | Toor, chana and moong dal; urad dal for idli and dosa | Cooking time, polish, damaged grain |
| Wholesalers and kirana stores | Dal in 25 or 30 kg bags | Colour, polish and price |
| Retail packers | Polished or unpolished dal for their own brand | Even size and colour, FSSAI labelling |
| Besan and snack makers | Desi chana or chana dal | Clean, sound grain |
2. The five main pulses
| Pulse | Also called | Main growing areas | Sold as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toor | Arhar, tur, pigeon pea | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh | Mostly toor dal; whole for milling |
| Chana | Bengal gram, chickpea | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra | Whole desi chana, chana dal, besan |
| Moong | Green gram | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra | Whole, split with skin, or yellow dal |
| Urad | Black gram | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh | Whole, split, or white urad dal |
| Masoor | Red lentil | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh | Whole brown masoor or red split dal |
3. What sets the price
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Whole or dal | Dal costs more per kilo because splitting loses weight. Compare like with like. |
| Polish | Unpolished dal sells at a premium to buyers who avoid added oil or shine. |
| Crop timing | Prices soften as new crop arrives and firm between harvests. |
| Imports | Duty and permission changes on imported toor, urad, masoor and chana move domestic prices. |
| Stock limits | When the government caps stocks, large forward buying may not be allowed. |
4. Crop timing and imports
| Pulse | Season | New crop arrives | Imported from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toor | Kharif | December to February | Myanmar, East Africa |
| Chana | Rabi | February to April | Australia |
| Moong | Kharif, plus a summer crop | From September | Mostly domestic |
| Urad | Kharif | From September | Myanmar |
| Masoor | Rabi | February to April | Canada, Australia |
5. What to put on the order
- Pulse and form: whole, split or dal, polished or unpolished.
- Origin, or domestic versus imported, if it matters to your customers.
- Grain size or count, particularly for kabuli chana and bold toor.
- Maximum moisture, damaged and weevilled grain, and foreign matter.
- Packing: 25, 30 or 50 kg bags, or retail packs with your brand.
- Quantity per delivery and per month, and the delivery city.
Request quotes
Grade, quantity and delivery point.
Official checks and useful references
Agmarknet — Agricultural Marketing Information Network ↗
Daily arrivals and mandi prices for toor, chana, moong, urad and masoor across India.
FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ↗
Sets the food standards for pulses and dal, including limits on added colour and polish.
DGFT — Directorate General of Foreign Trade ↗
Publishes the import and export policy for pulses, which changes from season to season.
Related buyer guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between toor, tur and arhar dal?
They are the same pulse, pigeon pea, under different regional names. Toor and tur are used in western and southern India, arhar in the north. What changes the price is origin, grain size, polish and whether it is whole grain or split dal, so put those on the order.
Should I buy polished or unpolished dal?
It depends on your customers. Polished dal looks brighter and is what most mass-market retail and kitchens buy. Unpolished dal sells at a premium to buyers who avoid added oil or shine. Whichever you choose, write it on the order and say what polishing agent, if any, is acceptable.
Are there stock limits on pulses in India?
The central government has at times placed stock limits on pulses held by wholesalers, retailers, mills and importers, usually when prices rise sharply. When a limit applies, holdings above it are not allowed and must be declared. Check the current position before buying a large quantity to store.
Can I order several pulses together?
Yes. Many kitchens, retailers and caterers buy toor, chana, moong, urad and masoor together each month. Send each pulse with its own form, specification and quantity in one message, and the quotes come back on WhatsApp line by line so you can compare them pulse by pulse.
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