Overall sales of exported chickpeas rose by an average 3.1% since 2018 when globally exported chickpeas amounted to $1.59 billion.
Year over year, the dollar value of chickpea exports fell by -2.8% compared to $1.68 billion during 2021.
The 5 most lucrative exporters of chickpeas are Australia, India, Canada, Türkiye and Mexico. Collectively that group of chickpeas suppliers generated 70.5% of all international sales of chickpeas during 2022.
Applying a continental lens, sellers in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported chickpeas during 2022 with shipments valued at $458.4 million or 28% of the global total. In second place were exporters in North America at 24.9% while 24.2% of international chickpeas sales were sourced from mostly Australia in the Oceania continent. Another 13.1% and 7.5% originated from Europe and Africa, respectively.
A smaller 2.2% 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 2022 are Pakistan, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Türkiye and Algeria. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers bought approaching half (46.9%) of globally imported chickpeas by dollar value.
The above percentages suggest that there is a more concentrated cohort of chickpeas exporters (70.5% for top 5 suppliers) compared to 46.9% for the top 5 importers nations.
From a continental perspective, 65.4% of globally imported chickpeas were delivered to Asian countries well ahead of importers in Europe (14.9%), Africa (9.7%), North America (6.8%), Latin America (2.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.2%) led by New Zealand.
Average Prices for Imported Chickpeas
Worldwide, the average unit price paid by chickpeas importers was US$1,380 per ton in 2022. That estimated dollar amount reflects a 23.1% uptick from the average tonnage rate of $1,121 that we calculated for 2021.
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 2022.
- Australia: US$395.3 million (24.2% of total exported chickpeas)
- India: $225 million (13.8%)
- Canada: $203.5 million (12.4%)
- Türkiye: $191.4 million (11.7%)
- Mexico: $137.8 million (8.4%)
- Russia: $135.3 million (8.3%)
- Tanzania: $83.9 million (5.1%)
- United States: $66.5 million (4.1%)
- Argentina: $35 million (2.1%)
- France: $19.6 million (1.2%)
- Myanmar: $13.4 million (0.8%)
- Sudan: $13.4 million (0.8%)
- Ethiopia: $12.5 million (0.8%)
- Belgium: $12.3 million (0.8%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $11.7 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.2% of globally exported chickpeas in 2022.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of chickpeas since 2021 were: India (up 152.5%), Kyrgyzstan (up 103.5%), Belgium (up 97.8%) and Canada (up 61.5%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported chickpeas sales were led by: Sudan (down -68.6% from 2021), Ethiopia (down -66%), United States of America (down -22.8%), Australia (down -21.8%) and Russia (down -18.8%).
Top Chickpeas Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported chickpeas recorded for 2022 was $1.61 billion, dropping by -8.6% over the 5-year period starting from $1.76 billion in 2018. Year over year, the value of imported chickpeas inflated by 9.9% compared to $1.46 billion for 2021.
Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of chickpeas imported during 2022.
- Pakistan: US$287.8 million (17.9% of total imported chickpeas)
- Bangladesh: $140.5 million (8.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $121 million (7.5%)
- Türkiye: $109.1 million (6.8%)
- Algeria: $95.4 million (5.9%)
- United States: $72 million (4.5%)
- Iraq: $51 million (3.2%)
- India: $50 million (3.1%)
- Italy: $46.6 million (2.9%)
- Iran: $45.7 million (2.8%)
- United Kingdom: $45.4 million (2.8%)
- Syria: $43.2 million (2.7%)
- Spain: $38.3 million (2.4%)
- Canada: $37.6 million (2.3%)
- Nepal: $30.1 million (1.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries bought about three-quarters (75.5%) of globally imported chickpeas in 2022.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing chickpeas importers since 2021 were: Pakistan (up 575.7%), Syria (up 61.4%), Canada (up 53.7%) and Algeria (up 42.1%).
Those buyer countries that posted declines in their purchases of imported chickpeas were led by: India (down -69.6% from 2021), Iran (down -52.3%), Bangladesh (down -27.2%), Iraq (down -10.3%) and Türkiye (down -6.6%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Chickpeas
In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imported chickpeas was US$$1,380 per ton.
The average tonnage charge for the number one chickpeas importer, Pakistan, was $758 per ton reflecting economies of scale.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the most economical average unit prices for imported chickpeas in 2022.
- Senegal: US$173 per ton (down -5.5% from 2021)
- Tanzania: $185 per ton (down -55.2%)
- Benin: $378 per ton (down -56.9%)
- Cambodia: $396 per ton (down -73.6%)
- Tajikistan: $428 per ton (up 5.2%)
- Uzbekistan: $437 per ton (down -16.6%)
- Burkina Faso: $477 per ton (down -15%)
- Argentina: $500 per ton (down -27.6%)
- Bangladesh: $511 per ton (down -5.9%)
- Namibia: $524 per ton (up 12.2%)
- Saint Lucia: $563 per ton (up 12.6%)
- Dominica: $571 per ton (down -42.9%)
- India: $604 per ton (down -12.5%)
- Madagascar: $624 per ton (up 19.5%)
- Kazakhstan: $642 per ton (down -1.1%)
Experiencing the greatest reductions in average unit price per ton paid for chickpeas from 2021 to 2022 were low-cost importers in Cambodia (down -73.6% from 2021), Benin (down -56.9%), Tanzania (down -55.2%), Dominica (down -42.9), then Argentina (down -27.6%).
The following countries paid for imported chickpeas costing the highest average unit prices.
- Botswana: US$7,333 per ton (up 319% from 2021)
- Montserrat: $6,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Malta: $4,527 per ton (down -4.6%)
- Bahamas: $4,333 per ton (down -33.3%)
- Kenya: $4,182 per ton (up 443.8%)
- Bermuda: $3,375 per ton (down -1.6%)
- French Polynesia: $3,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Mali: $2,815 per ton (up 219.2%)
- Honduras: $2,750 per ton (up 87.8%)
- Marshall Islands: $2,500 per ton (up 42.9%)
- Macao, China: $2,333 per ton (up 81.4%)
- Central African Republic: $2,310 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Antigua and Barbuda: $2,292 per ton (up 7.9%)
- Nicaragua: US$2,278 per ton (up 13.9%)
- Albania: $2,250 per ton (up 55.8%)
Analyzing the percentages changes from 2021 to 2022 for the above importers of chickpeas, the strongest increases were experienced by buyers in Kenya (up 443.8%), Botswana (up 319%), Mali (up 219.2%), Honduras (up 87.8%) and Macao, China (up 81.4%).
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 August 28, 2023
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 28, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 28, 2023
Wikipedia, Chickpea. Accessed on August 28, 2023