Originally published on June 4, 2024, on Alberta Farm Express
By Glen Hallick Marketsfarm
Glacier FarmMedia—As production of Australian chickpeas and lentils are set to increase in 2024/25, that could mean another year of strong competition globally for Canada.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences released its monthly supply and demand report on June 3. The report showed a 57.2 per cent increase for Australia’s chickpea production at 1.15 million tonnes in 2024/25. The country’s lentil output is to change very slightly with a dip of a mere 2,000 tonnes from a year ago at 1.61 million.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada projected Canada’s chickpea crop for 2024/25 at 225,000 tonnes and its lentils at 2.1 million. Last year, Canada harvested 142,000 tonnes of chickpeas and 1.67 million of lentils.
With Australia being the world’s largest exporter of chickpeas, more production could affect its export program, according to Janelle Whitley, senior director of market access and trade policy for Pulse Canada.
“The impact will depend on how large Australia’s export program will be for chickpeas, and what markets will assume the larger supply,” Whitley noted.
She said Australia’s chickpea exports, more than 751,300 tonnes in 2023, are primarily focused on South Asia. Its largest customers by far were Pakistan at over 310,000 tonnes and Bangladesh at nearly 237,000 tonnes.
In comparison, Whitley said Canada exported about 219,500 tonnes of chickpeas in 2023, with the United States purchasing about 51,700 tonnes. Turkey was next at around 46,000 tonnes with the European Union at approximately 37,100 tonnes. Pakistan was fourth at 13,130 tonnes.
When it comes to lentils, Whitley pointed out the story between Australia and Canada is very different. That being India is the largest customer for both countries, from which it acquired 95 per cent of its foreign lentils in 2023.
Added to that is the Indian government has eliminated its levy on lentil imports.
“With the tariff set to zero until March 31, 2025, strong sales to India are expected and Australia and Canada will both compete for market share. According to Statistics Canada, India was Canada’s largest export market purchasing 717,850 tonnes in 2023,” she commented.