This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1508 regarding arecanut imports, answered on July 29, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada. The question addressed concerns about arecanut imports from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries and their impact on the domestic market.
The response provides country-wise arecanut import data in USD Million for the past four years and the current year (April-December 2024-25):
* **Sri Lanka:** 43.64 (2021-22), 61.37 (2022-23), 69.87 (2023-24), 35.97 (2024-25), 27.86 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Myanmar:** 27.12 (2021-22), 111.76 (2022-23), 15.61 (2023-24), 33.20 (2024-25), 31.98 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Indonesia:** 14.22 (2021-22), 58.32 (2022-23), 43.14 (2023-24), 15.36 (2024-25), 12.66 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Bangladesh:** 0.03 (2021-22), 13.29 (2022-23), 53.06 (2023-24), 43.65 (2024-25)
* **United Arab Emirates:** 2.66 (2021-22), 18.87 (2022-23), 5.08 (2023-24), 2.45 (2024-25), 2.39 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Nepal:** 1.43 (2021-22), 6.29 (2022-23)
* **Oman:** 0.91 (2021-22), 0.91 (2022-23)
* **Malaysia:** 0.79 (2021-22), 0.65 (2022-23), 1.21 (2023-24), 1.21 (2024-25)
* **Singapore:** 0.33 (2021-22), 0.70 (2022-23), 0.43 (2023-24), 0.61 (2024-25), 0.61 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Thailand:** 0.33 (2021-22), 0.21 (2022-23)
* **Others:** 0.00 (2021-22), 0.18 (2022-23), 0.23 (2023-24), 0.47 (2024-25), 0.27 (April-Dec 2024)
* **Grand Total:** 90.18 (2021-22), 258.19 (2022-23), 147.99 (2023-24), 143.45 (2024-25), 121.54 (April-Dec 2024)
*Source: DGCIS*
The response also includes average arecanut prices (Rs/quintal) in key markets:
* **Kozhikode (Kerala):** Arecanut dry new - 31916.67 (Jan-June 2024), 32388.83 (Jan-June 2025)
* **Sirsi (Karnataka):** Chali new - 36316.17 (Jan-June 2024), 37856.67 (Jan-June 2025)
*Source: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare*
Based on the price data, the Minister states that there has been no apparent adverse impact of arecanut imports on domestic market prices. The response also addresses concerns about illegal imports and misdeclaration of cargo, with details on remedies contemplated not provided in the excerpt.
Key Entities Referenced
Arecanut: A commodity that is the subject of import and price analysis in the document.
Sri Lanka: A country from which Arecanut is imported into India.
Indonesia: A country from which Arecanut is imported into India.
Myanmar: A country from which Arecanut is imported into India.
SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY: The individual who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding Arecanut import.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry who answered the question regarding Arecanut import.
Kozhikode, Kerala: A market in Kerala, India where the average price of Arecanut is recorded.
Sirsi, Karnataka: A market in Karnataka, India where the average price of Arecanut is recorded.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1508
ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025
IMPORT OF ARECANUT
1508. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री) be
pleased to state :-
(a) Whether import of Arecanut has taken place mainly from Sri Lanka, Indonesia
and other South East Asian countries during the last three years and the current
year;
(b) if so, the country-wise and year-wise import data of arecanut for the last three
years and the current year as on 31st December, 2024;
(c) the average price of Arecanut since 2024-25;
(d) whether there has been an adverse impact of such import on the prices of
arecanut in the domestic market;
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to discourage the import of
arecanut into the country;
(f) whether there has been a drastic fall in arecanut prices in local market due to
illegal import of arecanut by resorting to misdeclaring the cargo; and
(g) if so, the details thereof along with the remedies contemplated thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a)&(b) : The country wise import data of Arecanut in India, during the last four years
and the current year is as below:
(Value in USD Million)
S. 2024-25
COUNTRY 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
No. (April-Dec)
1 SRI LANKA 43.64 61.37 69.87 35.97 27.86
2 MYANMAR 27.12 111.76 15.61 33.20 31.98
3 INDONESIA 14.22 58.32 43.14 15.36 12.66
4 BANGLADESH - 0.03 13.29 53.06 43.65
UNITED ARAB
2.66 18.87 5.08 2.45 2.39
5 EMIRATES
6 NEPAL 1.43 6.29 - - -
7 OMAN - - - 0.91 0.91
8 MALAYSIA 0.79 0.65 - 1.21 1.21
19 SINGAPORE 0.33 0.70 0.43 0.61 0.61
10 THAILAND - - 0.33 0.21 -
Others 0.00 0.18 0.23 0.47 0.27
Grand Total 90.18 258.19 147.99 143.45 121.54
Source: DGCIS
(c) to (g): The average price of Arecanut recorded in Kozhikode(Kerala) and Sirsi
(Karnatka) markets, which are the two main producing states in the country is as
below:
January-June 2024 January-June 2025
Description
Average price (Rs/quintal) Average price (Rs/quintal)
Kozhikode
(Arecanut dry new) 31916.67 32388.83
Sirsi (Chali new)
36316.17 37856.67
As evident above, there seems to be no adverse impact of import on the prices of
Arecanut in domestic market.
(Source: Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare)
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