Canadian lentils require robust global demand

18-Nov-2025 01:57 PM

Saskatoon. Canada has seen strong lentil production this year, but global demand remains weak. Meanwhile, Australia is also reporting record production, and lentils are available in abundance at affordable prices in the Black Sea region.

This has resulted in significant price pressure. Trade analysts believe that without robust global demand, Canadian lentil producers and exporters could face significant difficulties.

In Saskatchewan, Canada's leading agricultural producer, the share of top-quality lentils in total lentil production this year is estimated at only 22 percent, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 31 percent.

The good news for Canada is that Turkey, one of its top importers, has experienced a disappointing lentil harvest this year, with red lentil production down 43 percent compared to last year, at 230,000 tonnes.

This is the third-smallest production ever. Similarly, green lentil production is expected to decline by a massive 58 percent to around 30,000 tons.

Due to extremely weak domestic production, Turkey will need to increase its lentil imports. It is the second-largest buyer of Canadian lentils after India.

Since Australia is expected to have a bumper lentil production this year, significantly increasing its supply and availability in the global market, Canada will desperately need markets like Turkey, as India imports lentils from both Canada and Australia on a large scale.

During the first nine months of the current year, Turkey imported approximately 407,000 tons of lentils, with Kazakhstan accounting for the highest share at 42 percent, followed by Canada at a distant second with a 36 percent share.

Turkey is expected to import 325,000 tons of lentils from Canada during the entire 2025-26 marketing season.

On the other hand, lentil production in Canada increased by 22 percent from last year to reach 29.70 lakh tonnes, which is the second largest producer till date.