In the ever-evolving landscape of global chickpea trade, Australia, India, and Canada reign supreme, dominating the market and accounting for 40 percent of the world’s chickpea shipments in 2022. This triumvirate has witnessed a series of trade dynamics that have set the chickpea world abuzz.
India – titan of chicpea production
The tale unfolds with India, the undisputed titan of chickpea production, boasting a staggering 11,9 million tonnes in 2021, more than double the quantity churned out in 2012. However, India’s domestic policies and tariffs have caused ripples in the global chickpea trade. The once-lucrative 2017 figure of $1,3 billion in imports has dwindled to a mere $50 million in 2022. The role of Tanzania has been pivotal in catering to 90 percent of India’s chickpea import demands.
Australia – export champ
Conversely, Australia witnessed a production bonanza, crossing the 2 million tonnes mark during 2016-17. A substantial 62 percent of these chickpea exports found their way to India. However, the imposition of tariffs by India caused these exports to plummet to a meager 1 percent, igniting the urgency to diversify export markets. Australia remains the reigning champ, accounting for one-third of global chickpea exports over the past decade. Bangladesh and Pakistan led Australia’s chickpea exports in 2022, cornering nearly 80 percent of the market share.
Canada – production peaked
Canadian production peaked at 214,000 tonnes in 2020 but plunged to 76,000 in 2021 due to lower cultivation area and yields. Canada’s primary chickpea markets include Pakistan, the US, and the European Union, capturing more than half of its exports. Notably, Canada also imports chickpeas, with the US and Australia serving as its primary suppliers. In a surprising turn, US chickpea imports surged beyond double over the past decade, reaching an all-time high of $69 million in 2022.
Further afield, Türkiye has maintained an average production of over 520,000 tonnes in the last decade, paralleled by a twofold increase in exports. Türkiye held a significant 9 percent of global chickpea imports in 2022. Meanwhile, Mexico and Russia featured prominently, accounting for nearly two-thirds of global chickpea imports. On the flip side, Pakistan, after a steep drop in production from 751,000 tonnes in 2013 to 234,000 tonnes in 2021, witnessed a surge in imports, from $40 million in 2013 to a colossal $262 million in 2022. Australia continued as the primary supplier, responsible for nearly 50 percent of the trade, with Canada and Russia adding to the mix.
Finally, in chickpeas, Bangladesh experienced a dip in production from 7,000 tonnes in 2012 to 5,000 tonnes in 2021. Imports remained relatively constant at around 225,000 tonnes per year over the last decade. However, in 2022, Bangladesh’s chickpea imports plunged by a third due to reduced sales from Australia, which traditionally supplied over 90 percent of the demand.This global trade underscores the intricacies, impacts, and trade dynamics that shape this humble legume’s journey across borders, illustrating its significance in the agricultural world.
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