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Summary:
Chickpea exports from Australia hit record levels last season, but the country now confronts inventory depletion and reduced buyer commitments. Canada strengthens its pulse trade position while emerging suppliers from Tanzania add competitive pressure, reshaping global chickpea trade dynamics for Indian importers and international buyers.
Chickpea Exports Drive Canadian Pulse Performance
The global pulse market is witnessing a significant shift in trade dynamics as Canada consolidates its position while Australia navigates heightened competition despite achieving record chickpea exports in the previous season.
Canada's pulse export performance in the 2024-25 marketing season ending in July showed varied results across different commodities. The country shipped 2.18 million tonnes of whole and split peas, down from 2.41 million tonnes in the previous year. However, lentil exports rose to 1.835 million tonnes from 1.68 million tonnes, while chickpea exports increased to 214,000 tonnes from 188,000 tonnes.
The new marketing season starting in August has begun on a positive note for Canada. Chickpea exports nearly reached 13,000 tonnes compared to 7,800 tonnes in the same month last year. Whole and split pea shipments surged dramatically to 90,750 tonnes from just 16,650 tonnes year-on-year.
Australian Chickpea Exports: A Tale of Contrasts
Australia's export performance in the 2024-25 marketing year revealed dramatic variations across pulse categories. Chickpea exports soared five-fold to 1.94 million tonnes from 391,500 tonnes, while lentil shipments declined to 977,650 tonnes from 1.29 million tonnes. Whole pea exports saw modest growth to 69,000 tonnes, but split pea shipments dropped by over 50% to just 12,250 tonnes.
Recent Monthly Trends Signal Market Challenges
August data revealed a cooling trend in Australian pulse exports. Chickpea exports fell 29% compared to July, reaching 16,345 tonnes, while lentil consignments dropped 44% month-on-month to 43,945 tonnes.
Indian Import Landscape for Chickpea Exports Shifts
India's import patterns during the June-August quarter showed minimal chickpea purchases at barely 600 tonnes, but stronger appetite for lentils with 68,750 tonnes sourced from Australia. In August, Pakistan emerged as the largest buyer of Australian chickpea exports with 8,650 tonnes, followed by Nepal and the UAE at 1,900 tonnes each.
Market sources indicate that Australian inventories have depleted to near-zero levels even as the new crop harvest begins in Queensland.
Forward Commitments and Pricing Dynamics
Forward contracts signed by Indian importers for Australian chickpea exports are substantially lower than last year, estimated at around 300,000 tonnes. Some traders project total chickpea imports may not exceed 500,000 tonnes in the new marketing season beginning in November.
This reduced demand has resulted in prices for bulk and containerized shipments converging, with fewer advance bookings compared to the previous year. The chickpea trade landscape is experiencing significant pricing pressures as multiple origins compete for market share.
Intensifying Global Competition in Chickpea Exports
Australia faces mounting competitive pressure from multiple sources this season. Both Canada and the United States are reporting increased crop production in their chickpea exports, while Tanzania is offering over 150,000 tonnes that are expected to enter the Indian market.
This multi-origin competition is fundamentally reshaping pricing dynamics and trade flows in the global pulse market. The convergence of North American production increases and African market entry creates unprecedented competitive intensity for Australian chickpea exports.
Strategic Implications for Pulse Traders
The current market environment demands enhanced vigilance from importers and traders. With Australian inventories nearly exhausted and forward commitments significantly reduced, buyers are exploring alternative sourcing strategies. The chickpea trade increasingly requires real-time market intelligence to navigate the complex interplay of supply availability, pricing fluctuations, and multi-origin logistics.
For pulse processors and importers managing large-volume requirements, understanding harvest calendars across Australia, Canada, and emerging origins like Tanzania becomes critical for optimizing procurement timing and costs.
Conclusion
The 2024-25 pulse trading season underscores the increasingly competitive and dynamic nature of global agricultural commodity markets, particularly in chickpea exports. While Australia achieved record shipments last season, the confluence of depleted inventories, reduced forward commitments from key buyers like India, and heightened competition from Canadian, American, and emerging African origins presents significant challenges ahead.
For pulse traders and importers, this shifting landscape emphasizes the critical importance of multi-origin sourcing strategies and real-time market intelligence to navigate price volatility and secure optimal procurement opportunities in chickpea exports. As supply dynamics continue to evolve, agility and data-driven decision-making will be essential for maintaining competitive advantage in this rapidly changing market environment.
The chickpea trade exemplifies how global agricultural markets are becoming more interconnected and competitive, requiring sophisticated approaches to sourcing, risk management, and supply chain optimization for sustained success.