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Summary
Australia and Canada are maintaining their stronghold on global pulse markets with substantial export volumes of chickpeas, lentils, and field peas. Australia's record desi chickpea harvest of 2.3 million tonnes has led to exports of 1.63 million tonnes between October 2024 and January 2025, with India being the primary destination. Similarly, Canada's lentil exports have increased compared to the previous season, though their pea and chickpea shipments have seen a slight decline. These export trends are significantly influencing global pulse prices and supply dynamics, with implications for importers worldwide.
Market Dynamics: Australia Floods Markets with Record Chickpea Exports
Australia continues to assert its dominance in the global pulses market, leveraging its record 2.3 million tonnes desi chickpea crop. From October 2024 to January 2025, Australia exported an impressive 1.63 million tonnes of pulses globally, though January shipments of 395,428 tonnes marked a decrease from December's 719,046 tonnes.
According to Grains Australia data, India has emerged as the primary destination for Australian chickpeas, importing 1.18 million tonnes since October. However, January's imports of 250,392 tonnes reflected a decline compared to November and December figures. Pakistan and Bangladesh have also been significant importers, purchasing 72,786 tonnes and 55,356 tonnes respectively.
Current market prices show Australia offering chickpeas at $690 per tonne for April-May delivery to India, while Bangladesh receives slightly more favorable pricing at $680 per tonne for April delivery. Pakistan is sourcing desi chickpeas from both Russia and Australia at $700 per tonne for April delivery.
Lentil Exports Gain Momentum
Australia's lentil exports, which started slowly in October and November, gained significant momentum in December 2024 and January 2025. January exports reached 201,544 tonnes, a substantial increase from the 79,664 tonnes exported in January 2024. The total lentil exports from October 2024 to January 2025 stand at 524,173 tonnes.
India and Bangladesh have emerged as the largest buyers of Australian lentils this season, with India importing 226,464 tonnes and Bangladesh acquiring 192,241 tonnes. January alone saw India import 99,806 tonnes of Australian lentils, while Bangladesh imported 60,749 tonnes.
Despite this robust export performance, Australia's lentil crop for this season is estimated to be 26% lower at 1.2 million tonnes, though this still exceeds the 10-year average of 764,000 tonnes.
Competitive Pricing in the Global Market
Price competition between major exporters continues to influence market dynamics. Australia is offering red lentils (Nipper type) at $675 per tonne for April-May delivery to India, while Canada's Crimson variety is priced higher at $700 per tonne. Bangladesh is receiving more competitive offers from Australia at $665 per tonne. For Sri Lankan markets, Canada and Australia are offering red lentils at $705 and $720 per tonne respectively for April-May delivery.
Canadian Exports Show Mixed Trends
Statistics Canada data reveals mixed trends in Canadian pulse exports. From August 2024 to January 2025, Canada exported 1.56 million tonnes of whole and split peas, slightly down from 1.6 million tonnes during the same period last year. January's exports totaled 124,793 tonnes, with India importing just over 32,000 tonnes.
In contrast, lentil exports have shown growth, with Canada exporting 1.22 million tonnes until January this season, compared to 0.91 million tonnes a year ago. January shipments reached 129,119 tonnes globally. While India did not import any lentils from Canada in January, Bangladesh purchased over 25,000 tonnes.
Canadian Kabuli chickpea exports have decreased to 91,103 tonnes this year from 117,505 tonnes a year ago. January exports amounted to 17,864 tonnes, with the United States being the top buyer at just over 3,000 tonnes.
Conclusion
The substantial pulse exports from Australia and Canada are creating a significant impact on global market dynamics. With record chickpea harvests from Australia and increased lentil exports from both countries, importers like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are benefiting from steady supply but may face pricing pressures as the season progresses. These trends highlight the importance of diversified sourcing strategies for importers and the need for exporters to maintain competitive pricing. As we move further into 2025, market participants should closely monitor harvest forecasts, inventory levels, and shipping trends to optimize their trading strategies in this dynamic pulse market landscape.