Exports of Approximately 1.085 Million Tonnes of Lentils from Australia in the First Half

15-May-2026 01:54 PM

Melbourne. Lentil exports from Australia have now begun to decline rapidly. Shipments in March were significantly weaker compared to February. Exports to India and the United Arab Emirates are being severely impacted. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly increased the difficulties faced by Australian exporters.

According to a report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), a total of approximately 1.085 million tonnes of lentils were exported from Australia during the first half of the current marketing season—specifically from October 2025 to March 2026. This total included shipments of 545,000 tonnes in the October–December 2025 quarter, 281,000 tonnes in January 2026, 174,000 tonnes in February, and 85,000 tonnes in March 2026.

Of this total export volume of 1.085 million tonnes, a shipment of 482,654 tonnes of lentils was directed solely to India. India imported 238,675 tonnes of Australian lentils in the October–December quarter, 159,008 tonnes in January, and 78,971 tonnes in February; however, this figure plummeted to a mere 6,000 tonnes in March 2026.

During the half-year under review, apart from India, Australia exported 322,284 tonnes of lentils to Bangladesh, 61,943 tonnes to Egypt, 35,484 tonnes to Nepal, 33,901 tonnes to Pakistan, 85,895 tonnes to Sri Lanka, and 56,894 tonnes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while the remaining pulses were shipped to other countries. Australia currently holds a substantial exportable stock of lentils.

Send feedback