China Lentil Imports Shift as Domestic Prices Hold Steady

Chinese lentil import values are falling while volumes edge higher, highlighting a buyer’s market where diversified origins and stable domestic prices give importers good negotiating power in the near term.

China’s lentil market in early 2026 is characterised by softer import values but slightly higher import volumes, pointing to improved purchasing terms for Chinese buyers. The U.S. remains a key long-standing supplier, while Turkey and Myanmar have consolidated their positions in specific lentil types. India has sharply increased exports to China in January–February 2026, reshaping origin competition. Domestic FOB offers from China and export offers from Canada are currently stable in EUR terms, suggesting a broadly balanced but demand-sensitive market. Against this backdrop, importers can act selectively, while exporters face stronger price competition.

📈 Prices & Cross-Market Signals

Current indicative FOB prices converted to EUR show:

Origin	Product	Location	Price (EUR/kg, FOB)	1M Trend
China	Lentils dried, small green, organic	Beijing	1.23	Flat vs early April
China	Lentils dried, small green, conventional	Beijing	1.15	Flat vs mid-April
Canada	Red football lentils	Ottawa	2.60	Slightly firmer vs late March
Canada	Laird green lentils	Ottawa	1.77	Slightly firmer vs late March
Canada	Eston green lentils	Ottawa	1.67	Slightly firmer vs late March

Domestic Chinese green lentil offers have been broadly stable through April, with only marginal moves over the month. By contrast, Canadian lentil quotations in EUR show a modest firming bias, particularly for red lentils, which have recently traded at a small premium to greens on the global market as the pulse complex tightens its supply cushion.

🌍 Supply & Demand Dynamics

From January to February 2026, China’s lentil import value reached USD 3.5436 million, down 33.5% year on year, while import volume rose slightly to 5,815 tonnes, up 2.49%. This combination of lower value and higher volume points to softer import prices or a shift towards lower-priced origins and qualities. It underlines that buyers have recently been able to secure more product for less money overall.

The United States remains one of China’s main sources, especially for dry lentils, historically accounting for around 60% of import value. Turkey’s role has expanded in recent years, becoming a key supplier for specific lentil types demanded by Chinese processors and packers. Myanmar, as a neighbouring origin, supplies mainly dry lentils and has seen faster growth in some years due to logistical proximity and competitive freight.

Most notable is India’s strong increase in lentil exports to China in January–February 2026, elevating it to one of the most important origins. This intensifying competition between India, Turkey, Myanmar, and the U.S. contributes to the decline in average import values, as suppliers vie for market share. Global analysis also points to comfortable stocks and a difficult demand situation in several destination markets, further limiting sellers’ pricing power.

📊 Fundamentals & External Drivers

On the global supply side, Canada remains the pivotal exporter in the lentil trade, and planting surveys indicate a planned reduction in Canadian lentil acreage for the 2026/27 season by mid-single digits. While this points to somewhat tighter medium-term supply, current stocks and nearby availability remain adequate, especially after a bumper Canadian crop and slower export pace earlier in the campaign.

In China, the combination of increased lentil import volumes and stable domestic offers suggests that immediate supply is comfortable. Demand growth is solid but not explosive, and lentils still compete with other pulses and soy-based proteins, where China is also well supplied. Broader agri-market signals, including firm freight costs and generally higher logistics expenses in 2026, could limit downside in CIF prices even if FOB levels remain under pressure.

🌦 Weather Outlook (Key Regions Relevant to China)

China is not a major lentil producer globally, so domestic weather plays only a secondary role for supply, but it can influence logistics and consumption. Short-term forecasts for key eastern and northern import and consumption hubs (including Beijing and surrounding regions) indicate relatively mild temperatures and seasonally normal precipitation over the coming week, with no major disruptions to port operations or inland transport expected.

For major exporting origins, early-season field conditions in Canada and India remain broadly within normal ranges for late April, with no acute weather stress reported in the last few days that would immediately alter 2026/27 production expectations. However, as Canadian sowing progresses, markets will pay close attention to any emerging moisture deficits or planting delays that could tighten the supply outlook later this year.

📆 Short-Term Outlook & Trading Strategy

• Chinese importers: With January–February data showing higher volumes but sharply lower values, buyers are in a favourable position. Maintain a hand-to-mouth strategy in Q2 while using tenders to pit India, Turkey, Myanmar and U.S. suppliers against each other for best delivered EUR terms.
• Exporters to China: Given the intensified competition and reports of challenging demand in some markets, focus on differentiation by variety, quality, and logistics reliability rather than price alone. Consider flexible shipment windows and mixed-container offers to secure Chinese business.
• Risk management: Watch upcoming Canadian planting and early-crop weather. Any signals of significant acreage cuts beyond current expectations, or early drought stress, could reverse the current buyer’s market and justify forward hedging of Q4 2026 and 2027 needs.

📍 3-Day Price Indication (Direction, EUR)

• China FOB Beijing – small green lentils (conv./organic): Stable in the next 3 days around 1.15–1.23 EUR/kg, with limited room for downside given already compressed import values.
• Canada FOB Ottawa – green lentils (Laird/Eston): Slightly firm bias but largely range-bound near 1.67–1.77 EUR/kg over the coming days as buyers assess global pulse demand.
• Canada FOB Ottawa – red lentils: Holding a modest premium at about 2.60 EUR/kg; short-term direction seen as sideways as current price relationships within the pulse complex consolidate.