Global Chickpea Update 26.11.25

The global chickpea market has stabilised following a sharp price correction driven by strong harvests worldwide. However, large-calibre chickpeas remain resistant to this downward trend, maintaining premium pricing.

France: High-Quality Crops and Regional Shifts

France’s 2025 chickpea production is estimated at 30,000 MT, with overall excellent quality. Defective kernels are rare, and heliothis pressure was reduced by heat, resulting in smaller grains. The exception is along the Atlantic coast, where 70% of the crop reaches 8mm calibre. The ongoing shift in chickpea cultivation from Eastern to Western France continues.

USA/Canada: Record Volumes and Price Pressure

• United States: The 2025 crop is projected at 347,000 MT, up 20% year-on-year. Falling prices have spurred demand from the pet food industry, absorbing surplus supply. U.S. exporters also capitalised on Canada’s lower-quality crop, shipping chickpeas to Pakistan and Spain, where local production disappointed. Spain is expected to import 27,000 MT of U.S. kabuli chickpeas, a 70% increase over last year.
• Canada: Production is estimated at 350,000 MT, up from 287,000 MT last year, thanks to higher yields and expanded acreage. However, quality is a concern, with only 15% meeting Grade 1 standards.

Türkiye/Russia: Major Global Suppliers

• Türkiye: Output is around 600,000 MT, slightly above the six-year average.
• Russia: Estimates range from 650,000 to 750,000 MT, making Russia the third-largest chickpea producer globally. Key export markets include Türkiye and Pakistan, which together absorbed nearly 385,000 MT last year.

Mexico/India: Premium for Giant Chickpeas

Mexico’s crop remains insufficient at 150,000 MT, keeping prices for giant chickpeas (12mm+) high and stable. This price gap versus smaller calibres attracts interest from Russia, which aims to expand production of large chickpeas.

Argentina: Production Decline and Quality Risks

After a record 170,000 MT crop in 2024/25, Argentina’s 2025/26 harvest is forecast at 142,500 MT, down 17% due to dry conditions and lower yields (1,150 kg/ha). Pesticide contamination remains a significant risk in the Argentine supply chain, as farmers lack crop rotation alternatives.

Market Outlook: Price Floors and Future Risks

While production in France and more broadly in Southern Europe was on the lower end of the average, elsewhere, enthusiasm for chickpeas has been strong. This ample supply has pushed prices down drastically after three years of euphoria. Nevertheless, it seems price floors have been reached, and farmers’ production costs are now very close to current price levels. Beware of a potential boomerang effect.