Chickpeas Market Stuck in Neutral: Weak Demand Blocks Price Recovery

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The global chickpeas market, especially Kabuli chana, is currently experiencing a period of subdued performance. Despite stable supplies and steady arrivals in key producing mandis—most notably in Maharashtra—market sentiment remains cautious as buyers hold back. Wholesale Kabuli chana prices hover around USD 72 per quintal equivalent, reflecting a market overshadowed by markedly weak demand. Millers and stockists are buying only to meet immediate requirements, while export orders lag, intensifying price pressure and denying sellers the bargaining power to secure firmer rates.

The current environment leaves sellers in a tough spot, with limited prospects for near-term price recovery unless a significant uptick is seen in domestic procurement or international demand. Participants should stay alert, as the tone is expected to remain soft absent a genuine surge in buying interest. This interim landscape demands cautious trading and nimble positioning to weather the ongoing phase of buyer hesitation and tempered sentiment.

📈 Prices

Origin Product Type Count/Size Location Delivery Terms Latest Price (EUR/kg) Previous Price Update Date
Mexico Chickpeas dried 42-44, 12 mm Mexico City FOB 1.38 EUR 1.40 EUR 2026-02-21
Mexico Chickpeas dried 75-80, 8 mm Mexico City FOB 0.89 EUR 0.90 EUR 2026-02-21
India Chickpeas dried 60-62, 8 mm New Delhi FOB 0.91 EUR 0.92 EUR 2026-02-21
India Chickpeas dried 58-60, 9 mm New Delhi FOB 0.93 EUR 0.94 EUR 2026-02-21
India Chickpeas dried 46-48, 10 mm New Delhi FOB 0.97 EUR 0.98 EUR 2026-02-21
India Chickpeas dried 44-46, 11 mm New Delhi FOB 1.00 EUR 1.01 EUR 2026-02-21
India Chickpeas dried 42-44, 12 mm New Delhi FOB 1.03 EUR 1.04 EUR 2026-02-21

Market Sentiment: Soft, with slight weekly declines across origins.

🌍 Supply & Demand

  • Supply: Arrivals in Maharashtra and other Indian mandis are steady, ensuring adequate supply for both domestic and export markets.
  • Demand: Demand from both traders and bulk buyers is weak. Millers and stockists purchase only for immediate requirements rather than speculative stockpiling. Export demand remains muted, with little indication of an imminent pick-up.

📊 Fundamentals

  • Inventory Build-up: Sellers struggle to secure higher prices as stocks are not being drawn down by strong offtake.
  • Immediate Buying: Caution prevails among buyers at current price levels; most prefer to wait for further downward adjustment or improved demand signals.
  • Global Context: The ongoing soft tone in India is reflected globally. Prices for Mexican and Indian chickpeas have seen marginal declines, as evidenced in recent export FOB quotes.

☁️ Weather Outlook & Crop Impact

  • India: No significant weather disruptions reported; growing regions remain stable. Seasonally normal conditions support steady arrivals.
  • Mexico: Weather has not featured as a disruptive factor in recent market reports; supplies continue to move.

Potential Effects: Stable weather means no immediate upward driver for prices from the supply side.

🌐 Production & Stocks Comparison

  • India: Steady arrivals and adequate stock levels indicate no immediate supply risk. The lack of acute shortage continues to weigh on prices.
  • Mexico: Mexican export offers reflect slightly softer international sentiment as well, suggesting comfortable global availabilities.
  • Importers: Major importers remain cautious, monitoring price trends before committing to significant purchases, compounding the soft tone in the market.

💡 Trading Outlook & Recommendations

  • Market participants should trade cautiously in the near term, prioritizing risk management.
  • Bulls should await clear signs of strengthened buying or export revival before positioning aggressively for any price recovery.
  • Bears can maintain a mild bias, but sudden shifts in procurement or weather events could disrupt the current softness.
  • Monitoring export orders and Indian mandi arrivals closely is key to catching an early trend reversal.

📆 3-Day Regional Price Forecast (Indicative)

Region Product Type Current Price (EUR/kg) 3-Day Outlook
India (New Delhi FOB) Chickpeas dried (42-44, 12 mm) 1.03 Soft/Stable
Mexico (FOB) Chickpeas dried (42-44, 12 mm) 1.38 Soft/Stable
India (New Delhi FOB) Chickpeas dried (44-46, 11 mm) 1.00 Soft/Stable

Short-term call: No significant recovery expected; downward risks persist if demand remains stagnant.