China’s beans market in May 2026: robust growth in red kidney bean exports, softer imports, broadly steady FOB prices and a mildly bearish short‑term outlook.
China’s beans market is currently characterized by strong export momentum in red kidney beans, softer import volumes and broadly range-bound FOB prices with a slight downward bias. Export demand from Asia and Europe is absorbing Chinese supply, while modest price easing reflects cautious downstream buying.
Export activity for Chinese red kidney beans has been very robust in early 2026, with January–February shipments up more than a quarter year-on-year and exports to Russia, India and Yemen particularly strong. At the same time, China has trimmed bean imports in volume terms while increasing import value, pointing to firmer quality or price points from key origins such as India, Thailand and Ethiopia. Domestically, recent FOB indications for mung, kidney and adzuki beans in Beijing suggest stable to slightly softer prices compared with late April, as sufficient stocks and seasonally moderate demand cap rallies in the short term.
Prices & Short-Term Trend
Recent FOB offers in Beijing (as of 21 May 2026) show most Chinese beans trading in a narrow band with only marginal week‑on‑week moves. Organic mung beans are quoted around EUR 1.53/kg and conventional mung beans around EUR 1.46/kg, essentially flat versus mid‑month. Dark red kidney beans are stable at about EUR 1.22/kg, while black kidney beans eased slightly to around EUR 1.03/kg. Large white kidney beans remain the premium segment near EUR 2.01/kg.
Compared with late April, most varieties have moved by no more than EUR 0.01–0.02/kg, confirming a range‑bound market. External commentary also points to mildly softening Chinese bean FOB prices into early May, driven by limited stock pressure but cautious end‑user demand and weaker protein complex sentiment overall. China’s broader pulses index remains historically firm, yet the immediate tone is slightly bearish to sideways for common grades.
Supply, Demand & Trade Flows
Market feedback indicates an active and expanding export business for Chinese red kidney beans. In January–February 2026, China exported about 15,365.5 tonnes of red kidney beans, up 27.1% year‑on‑year, with export value rising 8.8% to roughly USD 26.1 million. Europe (notably Greece, Italy and Russia) and Asia (including India and Yemen) are key destinations. In February alone, exports to Russia reached around 1,134 tonnes, while shipments to India were about 1,417.7 tonnes, underlining strong demand from these buyers.
On the import side, China brought in about 5,794.5 tonnes of beans in January–February 2026, down 7.2% year‑on‑year in volume, though import value grew 7.0% to nearly USD 5.0 million. India, Thailand and Ethiopia dominate as origins, with February imports from India around 2,042.4 tonnes and from Thailand about 1,157.8 tonnes. The combination of rising exports and slightly reduced import volumes shows China leaning more on domestic supply and value‑added processing while maintaining diversified sourcing from South and Southeast Asia.
Fundamentals & Weather Background
China’s red kidney bean industry is benefiting from ongoing technology upgrades and supply‑chain integration, which support product quality and international competitiveness. Strong demand from Russia, India, Yemen and parts of Europe helps absorb exportable surplus and underpins prices for higher‑grade kidney beans. At the same time, softer demand in some domestic protein segments and cautious buyer behavior are preventing a sustained rally, leaving FOB quotes largely range‑bound.
In key bean-growing provinces in Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, eastern Inner Mongolia), recent reports highlight that spring planting is progressing under generally favorable conditions, with regions entering or already in peak sowing.1 Adequate soil moisture after earlier spring storms and seasonally mild late‑May temperatures create a supportive environment for 2026/27 dry bean establishment. Weather is therefore a watch factor rather than a current bullish driver, and there are no indications of large-scale planting disruptions at this stage.
Market Outlook & Trading Guidance
Given the combination of strong export flows, modestly weaker imports and stable weather, the near-term market balance for beans in China looks comfortable. Tightness is most visible in specific quality segments (large white and some organic or specialty beans), while mainstream mung and conventional kidney beans show adequate availability. External price trackers also suggest a slightly soft to sideways trajectory for Chinese mung and conventional kidney beans in the coming days, assuming no sudden change in export inquiry levels.
- Importers / buyers: Consider staggered purchases to cover nearby needs, taking advantage of the mild softness in mainstream grades. Avoid aggressive forward coverage until clearer indications of Northeast China yield potential later in the season.
- Exporters / processors: Maintain offer discipline for premium large white and higher-grade red kidney beans where export demand is strongest, but be prepared to offer small discounts or flexible terms on standard mung and black kidney beans to keep shipment volumes steady.
- Producers: With exports growing and technology upgrades improving competitiveness, focus on quality differentiation and meeting key destination specs (especially for Russia, India and Yemen) to capture stable premiums within an otherwise sideways price environment.
3‑Day Directional Price Outlook (CN, FOB)
For the next three trading days in China (22–24 May 2026), assuming stable FX and no abrupt policy or weather shocks, FOB price tendencies are expected to be:
- Mung beans (organic, conv.): Slightly soft to sideways; potential easing of about EUR 0.01/kg on cautious buying.
- Red kidney beans (dark red, conv.): Sideways; strong export demand likely caps downside despite limited domestic upside.
- Large white kidney beans: Sideways to mildly lower; premium maintained but buyers resist further increases.
- Black kidney beans: Sideways; recent small dip likely stabilizes near current levels.
- Adzuki beans (red): Sideways to slightly firm on niche export demand and relatively tighter stocks.
1. Recent national and regional planting updates for Heilongjiang highlight rapid progress and continued emphasis on higher yields and modernization in the main grain and bean belt.