Kabuli gram market in Canada is sluggish due to good availability

30-Jan-2025 08:11 PM

It sounds like the Kabuli gram (chickpea) market in Canada is going through a bit of a lull right now, mainly due to good supply both domestically and globally, as well as steady demand.

The price drop for large-grained Kabuli grams (35-37 cents per pound) reflects the supply abundance, but it seems that there might be potential for recovery due to the higher demand for the 9 mm size.

Stable pricing of small-grained Kabuli gram at 35 cents per pound is good news for producers in Southern Saskatchewan, though the upcoming crop’s price range (32-35 cents per pound) shows some caution from both buyers and sellers.

This price range is likely tied to the uncertainties around the new crop, especially with planting not starting until April-May and harvest coming later in the year.

The potential 25% import duty on Canadian chickpeas into the U.S. could indeed pose a challenge for Canadian exporters.

That’s a significant concern, especially considering the U.S. has traditionally been a key market for Canadian chickpeas.

If this duty becomes a reality, exporters may need to rely more on European Union and Middle Eastern markets, which seem to be holding strong demand.

The mention of potential increased chickpea production in the U.S. might add some competition for Canadian exports as well.

But hopefully, that will be balanced by continued demand in the EU and Middle Eastern regions. How do you see this impacting the Canadian chickpea farmers and exporters in the long run?