Chinese Lentil Exports Show Mild Recovery as FOB Prices Stabilise

Chinese lentil exports are set to continue a mild recovery in April 2026, with both export value and volume likely to exceed year‑ago levels. Stable global pulse demand and slightly firmer buying interest from key EU destinations underpin the market, while domestic FOB prices in China and benchmark Canadian origins are currently moving in a narrow range. In the first two months of 2026, China’s lentil export value and volume increased year on year, confirming that the market has regained some activity after last year’s slowdown. International demand for pulses is broadly stable, but importers in emerging and traditional EU markets have slightly stepped up inquiries for Chinese lentils, which should lend support to April shipments. At the same time, recent dust‑storm related weather in northern China has not yet translated into clear crop damage signals, keeping fundamental risk premia limited in the very short term.

Prices

Spot indications converted to EUR (approx. 1 CAD ≈ 0.93 EUR; 1 CNY ≈ 0.13 EUR) show a broadly steady lentil complex:

Over the last three weeks, Canadian FOB lentil prices have been broadly unchanged, while Chinese small green lentils saw a slight firming from late March into mid‑April before stabilising. This aligns with feedback of improving export interest but no aggressive tightening in nearby physical supply.

Supply & Demand

Market feedback indicates that in January–February 2026 China’s lentil exports (both value and volume) rose year on year, signalling renewed activity after the softer 2025 season. The key buyers remain European destinations such as Italy, Spain, France and Belgium, where food and ingredient demand for pulses is structurally robust.

On the demand side, the overall international pulse market is described as stable, but some emerging markets have increased their willingness to buy Chinese lentils. This incremental demand is expected to support China’s April 2026 exports, which are likely to continue a moderate recovery compared with the same period in 2025. Recent global data also point to generally tight but manageable supplies across major export origins, supporting today’s floor under prices without triggering a sharp rally.

Fundamentals & Weather

Fundamentally, the Chinese lentil market is transitioning from last year’s subdued export performance towards a more balanced environment. Rising shipments early in 2026 suggest that exporters have been able to place volumes into both core EU markets and some newer destinations, while end‑users are comfortable with current price levels.

In northern China, a recent Mongolian cyclone triggered widespread dust storms across Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia and into the Beijing region. For now, these events are short‑lived and mainly pose logistical and visibility challenges rather than confirmed yield losses in pulse‑growing areas. Temperature patterns in Gansu remain moderate for April, with overcast but seasonally normal conditions, implying no immediate weather‑driven threat to 2026 lentil production potential.

Short‑Term Outlook

Looking ahead to late April, China’s lentil export flow is expected to maintain a mild recovery trajectory. Stable international demand, especially from Italy, Spain, France and Belgium, should keep FOB Beijing prices underpinned, while competition from Canadian supplies limits significant upside.

Weather in northern and north‑western China bears monitoring, but current forecasts point to seasonally typical temperatures and only transient dust events, keeping fundamental risk premiums modest in the immediate term. Overall, the market balance favours a sideways to slightly firmer price pattern rather than a sharp move in either direction.

Trading Outlook

• Chinese exporters: Consider locking in nearby export sales for April–May at current FOB levels, as stable EU demand and improved shipment volumes support a mildly constructive price bias.
• EU importers (Italy, Spain, France, Belgium): Use current sideways prices to secure at least partial coverage for late Q2 deliveries, diversifying between Chinese small green and Canadian origin to hedge supply and logistics risks.
• Emerging market buyers: With global lentil prices broadly steady and export availability adequate, gradual, staggered purchases appear preferable to waiting for a significant downside correction that may not materialise.

3‑Day Regional Price Indication (Directional)

• FOB Beijing (CN, small green lentils): Expected to trade broadly flat over the next 3 days, with a slight upward bias if additional April export inquiries from EU buyers materialise.
• FOB Ottawa (CA, red and green lentils, in EUR terms): Sideways in the very short term, as no major fresh fundamental impulses are visible in the last few days.
• CN–EU delivered prices: Freight and logistics conditions remain seasonally normal; no sharp changes in landed EUR prices are anticipated this week.