In October 2024, Australian lentil exports saw a dramatic decline of 66%, dropping to approximately 30,000 tonnes from 89,000 tonnes in September.

This drop in shipments was attributed to off-season supply issues and delays in harvesting caused by adverse weather conditions.

The primary markets for Australian lentils in October were India (11,000 tonnes), Sri Lanka (7,615 tonnes), and Bangladesh (4,943 tonnes).

So far, in the 2023-24 marketing season, Australia has exported 1.41 million tonnes of lentils, down from 1.80 million tonnes during the same period in the previous year.

Going forward, exports are expected to decline further due to a reduced production estimate by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

They have lowered their forecast by 570,000 tonnes (34%) from 1.68 million tonnes to 1.12 million tonnes. This decline in production, along with limited old stock, is expected to result in even lower exportable stock in the 2024-25 season.

Australia, a major producer of red lentils, primarily exports to India, where lentil production is also expected to decrease, especially in key growing regions like South Australia and Victoria.