March 6, 2018
The future of chickpeas in Queensland is looking bleaker following another hike in tariffs by the Indian government.
India imposed an import tariff of 30 per cent without warning in December last year.
On March 1 this was raised to 60 per cent.
In January, AgForce Grains President Wayne Newton said India’s decision to put a 30 per cent tariff on chickpeas had been a devastating blow for Queensland grain growers, who produced 86 per cent of Australia’s chickpea exports.
“Chickpeas are Queensland’s fastest growing export product, increasing by more than 300 per cent in 2016-17 to be worth almost $800 million, largely through demand from India,” he said.
“Chickpeas now make up almost half of our total bulk export grain market, and the growth in these exports has contributed to Queensland becoming the most valuable agricultural State in the country.
“A 30 per cent import tariff will slash growers’ incomes into the future and what’s even worse is that an estimated 200,000 tonnes of chickpeas and lentils were already on their way to India when this decision was announced in late December.”
Speaking this week, Mr Newton said Australian exports to Bangladesh were continuing and warned that the tariff decision by India may come back to haunt them in the future.
“They will have to come back to Australia in a lower production year,” he told Queensland Country Life on Monday.
- Related article: MP Stresses Importance Of Indian Trade
