Australia exports 41,122t chickpeas, 87,055t lentils in January

Australia exported 41,122 tonnes of chickpeas and 87,055t of lentils in January, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Both figures are down sharply from the December totals, chickpeas by 64 percent and lentils by 62pc.

The drop in chickpea volume represents the usual season rundown, while lentils’ drop reflects competition in South Australian and Victorian ports from new-crop ASW-type wheat.

On chickpeas, Bangladesh on 25,179t followed by Pakistan on 4466t and the United Arab Emirates on 3924t were the largest markets for January-shipped product.

On lentils, India on 42,709t, Egypt on 17,182t and Sri Lanka on 10,641t were the largest markets.

January sales of lentils to Egypt are up sharply from 2384t shipped in December.

Egypt generally buys Australian lentils in containers, but occasionally buys bulk when importing combination cargoes also carrying Australian faba beans.

Houthi attacks quashed the trade’s willingness to send container vessels through the Red Sea, but bulk vessels have been seen as a safer option.

Australia’s previous biggest month of bulk lentil exports to Egypt occurred in September 2023 and totaled 26,940t.

Table 1: Australian chickpea exports in November and December 2023 and January 2024. Source: ABS

Table 2: Australian lentil exports in November and December 2023 and January 2024. Source: ABS

Tags: Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Australia, Egypt, export, lentils, Pakistan, India, chickpeas