Louis Dreyfus Company Now India’s Second-Largest Pulses Exporter; Eyes Processing Mills to Deepen Value Chain Presence 🌱

Global agri-trading major expands footprint in India as demand for plant-based protein rises

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French agri-trading giant Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has rapidly grown into the second-largest exporter of pulses to India, just one year after launching its global pulses business unit. The milestone underscores India’s centrality in the global pulses market — as the world’s largest producer, consumer, and importer.

LDC India CEO Sumeet Mittal, in an interaction , said the company is now among the top three global merchants in pulses, trading chickpeas, yellow peas, lentils and other varieties sourced from across continents.

A Global Pulses Business Built Around India

LDC formally established its global pulses business unit in September 2024, with an India-focused strategy from day one. The unit is headed by an Indian based in Singapore.

“We used to trade pulses on and off, but never as a structured business. With India being the world’s largest pulses market, it was clear where our biggest opportunity lay,” Mittal said.

LDC now imports pulses from:

• Canada – yellow peas and lentils
• Australia – chickpeas and lentils
• Argentina – limited quantities of yellow peas (experimental)
• Russia / Black Sea region – small yellow pea volumes
• Myanmar and African nations – select consignments

India’s 30% Duty on Yellow Peas: “More Market Visibility”

Responding to India’s recent 30% import duty on yellow peas, Mittal said the move has brought clarity to a market that had been jittery for months.

Trade activity has “become more active” since the tariff announcement, he noted, with domestic prices firming up but remaining stable.

Meeting Global Plant-Protein Demand

LDC’s expansion in pulses aligns with rising global demand for plant-based protein.

“We are seeing increasing inclusion of pulses in nutritional diets worldwide,” Mittal said, pointing to India’s government-backed initiatives like Bharat Dal and Bharat Atta, which aim to make pulses more accessible and affordable.

LDC May Set Up Pulses Processing Mills in India

The company is now evaluating the establishment of pulses processing mills in India — a move that would embed it deeper in the value chain instead of remaining a pure importer and distributor.

Location assessment is underway, with possibilities in:

• Central India
• Western India

The investment would follow LDC’s existing India-based assets:

• Edible oil refinery in Kandla
• Coffee processing mill in Kushalnagar, Karnataka

The pulses mill would extend its primary processing capabilities to a rapidly growing consumer and industrial market.

Cotton, Coffee & Regenerative Agriculture Projects

Beyond pulses, LDC continues to strengthen its wider India portfolio:

Cotton

• Welcomed India’s scrapping of the 11% duty on cotton imports until December 31.
• Warns India will need to import cotton until September 2026 due to weather-hit yields.
• LDC’s Jagruti cotton project has expanded from 7,500 to 26,000 farmers, distributing over 130,000 pheromone traps in 2024.
• A new regenerative agriculture initiative in Maharashtra has trained 7,500 farmers, improving soil health and reducing chemical use.

Coffee

• Over 300 farmers verified for sustainable coffee production, yielding 4,000 tonnes of certifiable beans.
• Distributed vermicompost units and inputs to more than 2,500 farmers.
• Preparing for EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance to protect export access.

Water Management in Gujarat

LDC is also running an integrated water resource management programme in Kutch, addressing water salinity and improving long-term water security for small and medium farmers.