Archive · 25 Nov 2025
Louis Dreyfus Company Expands Pulses Business in India
Louis Dreyfus Company, a big French company that trades food and other products, has become one of the top exporters of pulses like chickpeas and lentils to India.
They started a special team for this a year ago because India is a huge market for pulses.
They get most of their pulses from Canada and Australia.
The Indian government recently added a 30% tax on some types of pulses, but this hasn't greatly affected prices.
LDC is also thinking about building processing plants in India to be more involved in the pulse business.
Besides pulses, they also work with cotton and coffee farmers to help them grow better crops in a more sustainable way.
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has become the second-largest exporter of pulses to India since launching its global pulses business unit in September 2024.
LDC is exploring the possibility of setting up processing mills for pulses in central and western India to become more involved in the value chain.
The company imports significant quantities of chickpeas, yellow peas, and lentils primarily from Canada and Australia.
A 30% import duty on yellow peas by the Indian government has increased market visibility and activity without significantly impacting prices.
LDC is also involved in sustainable agriculture projects, including the Jagruti cotton project and regenerative farming initiatives in Maharashtra.
- Who
- Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and its CEO Sumeet Mittal
- What
- LDC has become the second-largest exporter of pulses to India and is exploring setting up processing mills
- When
- The global pulses business unit was launched in September 2024
- Where
- India, with a focus on central and western regions for potential processing mills
- Why
- To cater to the growing protein demand, especially from vegetarian sources, and to become a part of the value chain in a bigger way
- Company
- Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC)
- CEO of LDC India
- Sumeet Mittal
- Global Pulses Business Unit Launch
- September 2024
- Top Pulses Import Sources
- Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Africa
- Import Duty on Yellow Peas
- 30%
- LDC's Annual Commodity Volume
- 80 million tonnes
- Cotton Import Duty Scrapped
- 11% (temporarily)
- Jagruti Cotton Project Farmers
- 26,000