China’s lentil market faces pressure from strong Canadian/Australian supply and new domestic arrivals, with quality spreads widening and buyers staying cautious.
Prices
FOB Ottawa quotations for Canadian lentils have eased slightly in mid-October. Red football lentils moved from 2.13 EUR to 2.11 EUR FOB Ottawa between 10 and 17 October, while Laird Green slipped from 1.24 EUR to 1.22 EUR and Eston Green from 1.20 EUR to 1.18 EUR over the same period.
In China, small green lentils FOB Beijing show a modest downward trend over recent weeks. Conventional small green lentils eased from 0.90 EUR on 24 September to 0.86 EUR on 14 October, while organic lots declined from 0.95 EUR to 0.92 EUR over the same window. This aligns with reports that ordinary domestic lentils face the strongest pressure as new-crop volumes hit the market.
| Product | Origin | Location | Delivery term | Latest price (EUR) | Previous price (EUR) | Update date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lentils dried, Red football | Canada | Ottawa | FOB | 2.11 | 2.13 | 2026-10-17 |
| Lentils dried, Laird Green | Canada | Ottawa | FOB | 1.22 | 1.24 | 2026-10-17 |
| Lentils dried, Eston Green | Canada | Ottawa | FOB | 1.18 | 1.20 | 2026-10-17 |
| Lentils dried, small green (organic) | China | Beijing | FOB | 0.92 | 0.93 | 2026-10-14 |
| Lentils dried, small green (conventional) | China | Beijing | FOB | 0.86 | 0.87 | 2026-10-14 |
Supply & Demand
Market participants report that import supply into China is relatively ample. Canadian inventories are on the high side, and expectations for a solid new-season crop in Australia are putting a lid on international offers, especially for red lentils. This is supporting continued active imports of red lentils into China, even as domestic product becomes more available.
Domestically, new-crop lentils are arriving in volume from Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, with ordinary grades seeing the sharpest competition and price pressure. On the demand side, buyers are behaving rationally and tactically: they prefer purchasing on a needs basis and are waiting for lower prices instead of building large inventories. This behaviour limits follow-through on any short-term rallies and leaves the market lacking a clear driver for sustained upside.
Exclusive commodities on CMBroker
Fundamentals & Quality Differentiation
Weather during the growing season in Northwest producing regions has been characterized by episodes of high temperatures and drought, leading to noticeable divergence in thousand-kernel weight and visual grade. Recent October weather data for key areas such as Gansu’s Dingxi and nearby regions show cool to cold, mostly dry to light-precipitation conditions, which are generally supportive for ongoing harvest and post-harvest handling rather than creating new yield risks.
This background explains the widening quality spread: premium green lentils with better appearance and higher weight are more resistant to the current price decline than ordinary lots. For processors and packers targeting branded retail or export channels, securing higher-grade material is increasingly important, while feed- or low-spec demand is benefiting from softer prices in bulk.
Short-Term Outlook & Trading Guidance
Over the coming days, stable to cool and seasonally dry weather in Northwest China should allow domestic arrivals to continue at a good pace, maintaining pressure on common grades. With comfortable import flows from Canada and Australia and cautious downstream buying, the balance of risks still points to a soft to sideways market rather than a sharp rebound.
- Importers / Traders: Use current international softness to lock in red lentil volumes selectively, but avoid overstocking given domestic harvest pressure and cautious demand.
- Processors: Prioritize early coverage of premium green lentils, where quality-related support is evident and discounts versus ordinary grades may narrow later.
- Producers in Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia–Shaanxi: Consider staggering sales of top-grade lots; ordinary product may need more aggressive pricing or blending strategies to clear.
3-Day Directional View (China & Canada)
- China, small green lentils (FOB Beijing): Mild downward to sideways bias as new-crop arrivals stay heavy and buyers continue hand-to-mouth purchasing.
- Imported red lentils into China: Mostly steady to slightly soft, capped by high Canadian stocks and good Australian new-crop expectations rather than demand strength.
- Canada FOB (Ottawa) red and green lentils: Slightly soft tone after recent small declines; further moves will hinge on export sales pace, but no strong rebound signal in the next few days.