Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — China and India figured prominently in the September export data issued by the Canadian Grain Commission on Nov. 7. For the most part, the CGC’s numbers highlighted issues with grain, oilseed and pulse exports from licensed facilities to those countries.
For September, total Canadian exports worldwide were nearly 3.71 million tonnes compared to 3.87 million the same month a year ago. At two months into the 2025/26 crop year, Canadian licensed facilities shipped out about 5.86 million tonnes versus 6.77 million the previous September.
Trade action by China
Trade action taken by China against Canada generated notable declines in the former’s canola and pea imports. Currently, Beijing has its 75.8 per cent tariff on China’s intake of Canadian canola seed along with 100 per cent levies on canola oil and meal as well as yellow peas.
That has seen China’s purchases of canola seed from Canada tumble to a mere 113,900 tonnes compared to more than 1.4 million a year ago. Peas held at zero while those imports were 233,000 tonnes the previous September. Added to that, China’s imports of Canadian lentils were also at zero versus 20,700 tonnes last September.
India’s about-face
A sudden about-face in Indian trade policy will set Canadian pea exports to the country on a downward slide. As October wrapped up, the Indian government announced it would impose a 30 per cent tariff on its yellow pea imports effective Nov. 1.
Although rumours of such a move began circulating in September, the Indian government remained on course to maintain its latest duty-free period until March 2026. Reports said pressure from the country’s sizeable farm lobby pressured the government into an earlier-than-expected change as to prop up domestic prices.
India imported 397,500 tonnes of peas from Canadian licensed facilities during September, up from 387,100 a year ago. The government said the duty will apply to yellow pea imports dated after Nov. 1, so any sharp drop in Canadian exports to India won’t be seen in the CGC’s report for a few months.
Despite India having a 10 per cent surcharge on its lentil imports, those from Canada soared to 173,100 tonnes as opposed to 38,000 a year ago.
Exports
Select Canadian grain, oilseed and pulse exports, September-September, in thousands of metric tonnes (Source CGC):
Commodity 2025/2026 2024/2025 Change
Wheat 3,163.5 2,886.2 +277.3
Durum 389.6 394.9 +4.7
Oats 206.8 237.6 -30.8
Barley 376.3 297.1 +79.2
Canola 726.1 1,790.4 -1,064.3
Soybeans 86.6 103.5 -16.9
Peas 625.9 637.5 -11.6
Corn 11.6 286.0 -274.4
Lentils 253.1 124.0 +129.1
