ABARES forecasts lentils at 1.6Mt, chickpeas 1.1Mt

Australia is forecast to produce 1.1 million tonnes (Mt) of chickpeas and 1.6Mt of lentils from the crop now being planted, according to estimates released today in ABARES’ June Australian Crop Report.

Australia’s area planted to all winter pulses is forecast to increase by 17pc from last season to 2.5 million hectares in 2024-25, driven by increases in chickpea and lentil plantings.

Area planted to chickpeas is forecast to increase by around 80 percent to 730,000ha in 2024-25, 24pc above the 10-year average to 2023-24, reflecting high expected margins and a favourable start to the cropping season in Queensland and New South Wales.

Year on year, national chickpea production is forecast to increase by 133pc to 1.1Mt in 2024-25, 46pc above the 10-year average to 2023-24.

In Qld, chickpea area is seen as being up 73pc year on year to 380,000ha, with production seen at 560,000t, double last season’s figure.

In NSW, area at 310,000ha is seen as being up 107pc on the year, with production up a massive 227pc to 540,000t.

Area planted to lentils is forecast to increase further in 2024-25 to a record 885,000ha, reflecting high lentil prices.

Lentil production is forecast to remain steady on last year at 1.6Mt, but be more than double the 10-year average to 2023-24, with the expansion in area planted to lentils expected to be offset by lower expected yields.

South Australia is Australia’s biggest lentil producer, and its crop at 810,000t from 460,000ha is seen as being up 5pc on last year’s area, largely due to a swing away from cereals and canola on Eyre Peninsula, but up only 1pc on production because of the patchy start to the season.

Victoria’s lentil crop is forecast at 765,000t from 400,000ha, only marginally different to last year’s.

Western Australia is Australia’s biggest lupin-producing state by far, and it is forecast to produce 1.39Mt from 330,000ha, with area up 5pc and production up 11pc.

Tags: crop, forecast, pulses, estimates, Australia, lentils, Production, chickpeas, yields