Desi Chickpeas: Australian Crop Report Update and Impact on India (June 2025)

17-Jun-2025 09:05 AM

Desi Chickpeas: Australian Crop Report Update and Impact on India (June 2025)
★ In its quarterly crop report released on June 3, ABARES has forecast Australia’s new chickpea crop at 1.88 million tonnes, down from the record 2.27 million tonnes harvested last season.
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Sowing Conditions:
★ Many growers in northern New South Wales (NSW) and southern and central Queensland (QLD) have completed sowing.
★ Weather has been mostly favourable across key growing regions, but parts of north-western NSW plains have been too wet, preventing full planting.
★ Some farmers are expected to finish sowing by the end of June.
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Market Sentiment & Pricing:
★ Bulk demand for new-season chickpeas has declined.
★ New-crop bids at Brisbane port are around AUD $730/tonne, down sharply from $860/tonne in early May.
★ Most growers are only willing to sell if prices approach $800/tonne.
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Impact on India:
★ A 10% import duty is currently imposed on Australian chickpeas entering India.
★ With this duty and current market projections, on-farm prices are unlikely to cross AUD $600/tonne.
★ Sentiment remains bearish as chickpea availability in India is considered sufficient.
★ Stocks of old-crop Australian chickpeas are low, with Pakistan being the only active buyer at present, while Bangladesh’s demand remains weak.
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Outlook:
★ India’s imports of desi chickpeas are expected to remain low until September.
★ However, festive demand during this period may provide some support to domestic prices.