MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse exports are running well ahead of their year-ago level, with some demand rationing likely over the next few months as supplies tighten ahead of the new-crop harvest.
Canada has exported 1.56 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year to date, with Turkey the top destination at 421,000 tonnes followed by India at 357,000 tonnes, according to Statistics Canada data. That compares with 956,000 tonnes of exports through eight months of the previous crop year, with Turkey’s imports up by 88 per cent and India up by 83 per cent.
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Pea exports of 1.95 million tonnes are up by 44 per cent, with China accounting for just over a million tonnes of the total. Other major importers of Canadian peas include Bangladesh, the U.S., and Pakistan. That compares with the 1.35 million tonnes of pea exports by the same time a year ago. Chinese demand is similar on the year, but neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan were major buyers in 2021-22.
Canada has exported 167,000 tonnes of chickpeas through the first eight months of the 2022-23 crop year, with the U.S. the top destination followed by Turkey, Pakistan, Syria and Italy. The exports through March are roughly double what moved the same time the previous year.
Stocks of all three pulse crops were below the five-year average as of March 31, with 1.47 million tonnes of lentils, 900,000 tonnes of peas, and only 112,000 tonnes of chickpeas on hand to make it through the marketing year.
Large green lentils are currently trading in the 50-56 cents/lb. range in Western Canada, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with new-crop bids around 48 cents. Old-crop red lentils top out at 37.5 cents/lb., with new-crop only slightly lower at 35 cents.
Green peas delivered to the elevator are trading at roughly $13.25-$14.50 per bushel, with yellow peas in the $10-$12 per bushel area. New-crop pricing for the two crops tops out at $13 and $10.50 per bushel respectively.
Large-calibre Kabuli chickpeas are currently trading at around 50-54 cents/lb., according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, with new-crop bids topping out at 48 cents/lb.
— Phil Franz-Warkentin is an associate editor/analyst with MarketsFarm in Winnipeg.
