Lentils Market Update 11.04.25
The lentil market heavily relies on Canada, the leading global exporter. Another significant factor is India’s long-standing demand for Canadian and Australian lentils. Thanks to a robust Canadian harvest, the market has stabilized since January 2025. India’s government decisions will continue to significantly influence the market.
France
Following three years of poor harvests, France experienced a decent crop in 2024, with estimated yields of around 2 MT per hectare, resulting in a total production of approximately 25,000 MT net. However, the primary challenge remains the bruchid beetle infestation, for which no effective technical solution has been found yet. This positive season should encourage farmers to continue cultivation in 2025, though it is still too early to predict next year’s harvest.
Canada
In 2024, Canadian lentil production is estimated at 2.43 million MT, marking a 35% increase from 2023 and 3.6% above the ten-year average. This growth is attributed to improved yields (+16.4%) and an expanded harvested area (+15.9%).
Between August and November 2024, Canada exported 0.8 million MT, reflecting a 14% increase from the same period in 2023. India remains the top buyer with 0.35 million MT, followed by Türkiye and the UAE. Sowing intentions in Canada are expected to decline slightly by 0.8% in 2025, making yield performance a crucial factor to monitor.
Other Things to Note
- Spain experienced another near-zero harvest due to unfavourable weather, despite an increase in planted areas following the price surge.
- Australia now produces around 1 million MT of red lentils, almost entirely exported to India. This has disrupted Canadian exporters, as red lentils still make up 70% of Canada’s total lentil production.
