Chinese Lentil Prices Hold Steady as Canada Signals Tighter Future Supply

Chinese FOB prices for small green lentils in Beijing are flat week‑on‑week, while Canadian quotations remain steady but underpinned by expectations of lower 2026/27 plantings. Near‑term, the market looks sideways in EUR terms, with only modest upside risk from freight and energy.

The lentil market is currently characterised by stable spot prices and a comfortable global pulse supply backdrop. Major exporters Canada and China continue to offer competitively, even as Canadian exporters face a more difficult demand environment and rising competition from other pulses. At the same time, surveys point to a mid‑single‑digit reduction in Canadian lentil area for 2026/27, suggesting that today’s stability may give way to a firmer tone later in the year if demand improves. For now, Chinese buyers benefit from stable CN‑origin offers and ample global availability, but should watch freight, currency and Canadian planting progress closely.

📈 Prices & Spreads

All prices below converted to EUR/tonne using ~1.00 USD = 0.93 EUR (indicative).

Origin	Type	Spec	Location / Term	Latest Price (EUR/t)	1W Change
China	Small green	99.5%, non‑organic	Beijing FOB	≈ €1,065	Unchanged vs 18 Apr
China	Small green	99.5%, organic	Beijing FOB	≈ €1,140	Unchanged vs 18 Apr
Canada	Laird green	Conventional	FOB West Coast (indic.)	≈ €1,540	Broadly steady last 3 wks【turn0search1】【turn0search2】
Canada	Red (football)	Conventional	FOB West Coast (indic.)	≈ €2,260	Red now slightly above green【turn0search0】

Recent international reporting confirms Chinese small green lentil offers have firmed modestly from late March into mid‑April before stabilising, matching the flat CN price indications over the last week.【turn0search2】 Canadian red lentils have moved to a small premium over green, but both types are described as broadly unchanged in recent weeks, consistent with the steady CAD‑denominated FOB levels seen mid‑April.【turn0search0】【turn0search1】

🌍 Supply, Demand & Trade Flows

Global lentil demand is currently described as “difficult” in several destination markets, with buyers cautious and well supplied by alternative pulses.【turn0search4】【turn0search2】 This is capping upside in export prices despite tighter forward supply signals. For China, this translates into relatively comfortable import options from Canada and other origins, while domestic small green offers remain competitive in EUR terms.【turn0search1】【turn0search2】

On the supply side, Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada and recent surveys point to a planned reduction of around mid‑single‑digits in Canadian lentil area for 2026/27, roughly a 6% cut to about 1.7 million hectares.【turn0search1】【turn0search4】 This, together with reports of a bumper previous crop and some trade restrictions, is encouraging exporters to keep offers steady rather than discount aggressively, aiming to protect margins as stocks are drawn down.【turn0search4】

Trade relations between Canada and China have improved in early 2026, with a January framework deal reducing frictions on Canadian agricultural exports and a pledge in Beijing in April to deepen economic ties.【turn0search15】【turn0reddit19】 While not lentil‑specific, this détente supports a constructive medium‑term outlook for Canadian pulse flows to China and may help maintain competitive CN‑delivered prices, barring major logistical shocks.

☁️ Weather & Logistics Focus: China

Late April weather around Beijing is seasonally mild, with no reports of severe rainfall, flooding or prolonged heat that would significantly disrupt inland logistics or port movements for pulses over the coming days.【turn0search23】 Broader national ag and transport commentary has focused more on air‑quality and fuel‑related cost pressures than on weather‑driven supply risks.

However, higher global oil prices linked to Middle East tensions have already triggered higher domestic fuel surcharges on Chinese transport in early April.【turn0search13】 This raises freight costs on internal movements from producing regions to export hubs, adding a slight upward cost bias to FOB lentil offers, even if underlying farmgate prices remain flat.

📊 Fundamentals & Market Drivers

• Comfortable global pulse balance: Strong supplies in other pulses, including Indian green gram, signal that overall pulse availability is comfortable, limiting aggressive buying in lentils.【turn0search2】
• Area decline in Canada: Planned area cuts in 2026/27 are a key bullish medium‑term factor, especially if weather or demand surprises tighten stocks later in the year.【turn0search1】【turn0search4】
• Shifting red/green price relationship: Red lentils moving to a small premium over green is a notable structural change, reflecting relative demand and stock patterns and potentially shifting planting and trade preferences.【turn0search0】
• Macro & freight: Rising energy prices and higher domestic transport surcharges in China pose incremental cost pressure on export supply chains.【turn0search13】

📆 Trading Outlook & 3‑Day View

Trading outlook (next 2–4 weeks)

• Chinese buyers: Use the current flat market to extend nearby coverage but avoid over‑committing far forward; potential firming from Canadian area cuts is more a Q3/Q4 story than an immediate risk.
• Exporters in China: Maintain competitive offers and focus on service and logistics reliability rather than price hikes; energy‑driven cost inflation can be managed via surcharges and flexible freight terms.
• Importers relying on Canada: Monitor planting pace and early crop conditions closely; consider some optionality between red and green lentils as the new red premium evolves.

3‑day price indication (region: China)

• Beijing FOB, small green lentils, non‑organic: Sideways in EUR; trade within a very narrow band around current levels, with any moves mainly freight‑driven.
• Beijing FOB, small green lentils, organic: Sideways to fractionally firm vs non‑organic, but overall flat in EUR as global demand remains subdued.
• China‑delivered Canadian lentils: Largely unchanged in EUR over the next three days, with FX and freight the main short‑term variables rather than origin price moves.【turn0search1】【turn0search2】