By The price of tur dal, a staple food for many Sri Lankans, has now reached the 500-rupee range. The price of tur dal has been increasing steadily in Sri Lanka in recent years, due to a number of factors, including the increasing demand for dal, the decreasing supply of dal, and the depreciation of the rupee. Now, there are signs that prices may shoot up once again due to a decision taken by Mozambique.
Sri Lanka imports tur dal from a variety of countries, including India, Myanmar, and Mozambique. In recent years, Mozambique has become the largest supplier of tur dal to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, India is the largest producer and exporter of tur dal in the world. Sri Lanka imports a significant amount of tur dal from India, mainly from the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The import of tur dal from Mozambique is likely to be affected by the recent decision of the Mozambican government to impose a minimum export price (MEP) of $850-900 on tur dal on a free-on-board (FOB) basis for different qualities. This will likely push up the price of tur dal in Sri Lanka and make it more expensive for consumers.
Commenting on the Indian situation, New Delhi-based wholesaler Suman Singh Bedi told Lanka Newsline that the Mozambique pricing is not reasonable and India will also have to increase its price of tur dal to Sri Lanka.
