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Top Chickpeas Exports & Imports by Country

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Plate of chickpeas
Chickpea dish
In 2021, worldwide shipments of chickpeas exported from all countries totaled US$1.7 billion.

Overall sales of exported chickpeas shrank by an average -39% since 2017 when globally exported chickpeas amounted to $2.78 billion.

Year over year, the dollar value of chickpea exports expanded by 35.9% compared to $1.25 billion during 2020.

The 5 most lucrative exporters of chickpeas are Australia, Turkey, Russia, Mexico and Canada. Collectively that group of chickpea suppliers generated two-thirds (66.7%) of all international sales of chickpeas during 2021.

Applying a continental lens, Oceanian countries led by Australia sold the highest dollar worth of exported chickpeas during 2021 with shipments valued at $505.2 million or 29.7% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia at 23.1% while 20.2% of international chickpeas sales. Another 14.5% and 10.5% originating from Europe and Africa, respectively.

A smaller 2% share came from Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Major Buyers of Imported Chickpeas

Turning attention to imported chickpeas, the 5 leading importers of chickpeas in 2021 are Bangladesh, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Iran. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers bought almost half (46.1%) of globally imported chickpeas by dollar value.

Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of chickpeas exporters (66.7% for top 5 suppliers) compared to 46.1% for the top 5 importers.

From a continental perspective, 69.5% of globally imported chickpeas were delivered to Asian countries well ahead of importers in Europe (13.7%), Africa (8.6%), North America (5.4%), Latin America (2.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.2%) mostly New Zealand.

Average Prices for Imported Chickpeas

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by chickpeas importers was $1,121 per ton in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a -10.2% downtick from the average tonnage rate of $1,249 calculated for 2020.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 071320 for dried, shelled chickpeas.

Top Chickpeas Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of chickpeas during 2021.

  1. Australia: US$505.2 million (29.7% of total exported chickpeas)
  2. Turkey: $202.3 million (11.9%)
  3. Russia: $166.6 million (9.8%)
  4. Mexico: $132.8 million (7.8%)
  5. Canada: $125.3 million (7.4%)
  6. India: $89.1 million (5.2%)
  7. United States: $85.8 million (5%)
  8. Tanzania: $77.8 million (4.6%)
  9. United Arab Emirates: $63.9 million (3.8%)
  10. Sudan: $42.6 million (2.5%)
  11. Ethiopia: $36.6 million (2.2%)
  12. Argentina: $32.6 million (1.9%)
  13. France: $18.6 million (1.1%)
  14. Myanmar: $13.2 million (0.8%)
  15. Ukraine: $12.6 million (0.7%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 94.5% of global chickpeas exported in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing chickpeas exporters since 2020 were: Ethiopia (up 168.6%), Sudan (up 129.3%), Australia (up 113.5%) and Canada (up 93.5%).

Five major suppliers posted declines in their exported chickpeas sales namely Argentina (down -50.4%), India (down -36.7%), United States of America (down -18.5%), Ukraine (down -17.1%), and Myanmar also called Burma (down -3.5%).

Top Chickpeas Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported chickpeas dropped by -55.5% over the 5-year period starting from $3.26 billion in 2017 but expanded by 13.5% year over year compared to $1.28 billion for 2020.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of chickpeas imported during 2021.

  1. Bangladesh: US$192.9 million (13.3% of total imported chickpeas)
  2. India: $164.7 million (11.4%)
  3. Turkey: $116.7 million (8.1%)
  4. United Arab Emirates: $98 million (6.8%)
  5. Iran: $95.9 million (6.6%)
  6. Algeria: $66.7 million (4.6%)
  7. Iraq: $54.4 million (3.8%)
  8. United States: $54.1 million (3.7%)
  9. Saudi Arabia: $46.8 million (3.2%)
  10. Pakistan: $42.6 million (2.9%)
  11. United Kingdom: $40 million (2.8%)
  12. Italy: $36 million (2.5%)
  13. Spain: $34 million (2.3%)
  14. Nepal: $31.2 million (2.2%)
  15. Syria: $26.7 million (1.8%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought just over three-quarters (75.9%) of globally imported chickpeas in 2021.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing chickpeas importers since 2020 were: Bangladesh (up 92.1%), Iran (up 88.6%), United Arab Emirates (up 58.9%) and Syria (up 49.7%).

Three major buyers posted declines in their purchases of imported chickpeas namely Pakistan (down -57.9%), Spain (down -25.3%) and the United Kingdom (down -20.1%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Chickpeas

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imported chickpeas was US$1,121 per ton.

The average tonnage charge for the number one chickpeas importer, Bangladesh, was $543 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the most economical average unit prices for imported chickpeas in 2021.

  1. Burkina Faso: US$0.56 per ton (up 30.2% from 2020)
  2. Trinidad and Tobago: $1.05 per ton (up 20.7%)
  3. Laos: $98 per ton (down -31.5%)
  4. Senegal: $183 per ton (up 4.6%)
  5. Togo: $282 per ton (up 21.0%)
  6. Benin: $299 per ton (down -83.9%)
  7. Tajikistan: $407 per ton (up 3.6%)
  8. Tanzania: $413 per ton (down -58.7%)
  9. Zimbabwe: $456 per ton (up 16.6%)
  10. Ethiopia: $472 per ton (down -76.4%)
  11. Dominica: $500 per ton (down -50.0%)
  12. Madagascar: $522 per ton (down -11.4%)
  13. Uzbekistan: $524 per ton (up 120.2%)
  14. Uganda: $530 per ton (down -36.4%)
  15. Bangladesh: $543 per ton (up 11.3%)

Experiencing the greatest reductions in average unit price per ton paid for chickpeas from 2020 to 2021 were low-cost importers Benin (down -83.9%), Ethiopia (down -76.4%), Tanzania (down -58.7%), Dominica (down -50%), then Uganda (down -36.4%).

The following countries paid for imported chickpeas costing the highest average unit prices.

  1. Bermuda: US$3,429 per ton (down -8.6% from 2020)
  2. Malta: $2,999 per ton (up 38.5%)
  3. Lesotho: $2,682 per ton (up 80.5%)
  4. Cameroon: $2,400 per ton (up 140%)
  5. Belize: $2,400 per ton (up 20%)
  6. Ireland: $2,157 per ton (down -11.2%)
  7. Antigua/Barbuda: $2,125 per ton (up 27.5%)
  8. Nigeria: $2,030 per ton (up 39.5%)
  9. Nicaragua: $2,000 per ton (up 34.8%)
  10. Gibraltar: $2,000 per ton (down -6.7%)
  11. Saint Vincent/Grenadines: $2,000 per ton (down 0%)
  12. Papua New Guinea: $2,000 per ton (up 100%)
  13. Malawi: $2,000 per ton (down 0%)
  14. Eritrea: $2,000 per ton (up 100%)
  15. Barbados: $1,970 per ton (up 26.4%)

Analyzing the percentages changes from 2020 to 2021 for the above importers of chickpeas, the strongest increases were experienced by buyers in Cameroon (up 140%), Papua New Guinea (up 100%), Eritrea (up 100%), Lesotho (up 80.5%), and Nigeria (up 39.5%).

See also Soya Beans Exports by Country, Best Tofu Exports by Sales, Average Unit Prices & Weight, Pineapples Exports by Country, Top Salmon Exports & Imports by Country and Top Lentils Exporters by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Chick Peas Suppliers. Accessed on January 24, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on January 24, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 24, 2022

Wikipedia, Chickpea. Accessed on January 24, 2022