Lentil exports from Canada increased in May but peas decreased
04-Jul-2025 01:35 PM
Vancouver. Sowing of pulse crops has already ended in Canada and harvesting is expected to begin next month (August). Meanwhile, export shipments of lentils, peas, and chickpeas from the 2024–25 season are ongoing.
Available data indicates a significant rise in the export of lentils and chickpeas from Canada in May 2025 compared to April, while shipments of peas saw a sharp decline.
Interestingly, despite a 10 percent customs duty imposed on lentil imports in India since April, India's lentil imports from Canada in May were under 10 thousand tonnes, whereas pea imports exceeded 50 thousand tonnes.
According to official figures, Canada exported 63,980 tonnes of lentils in April, which surged to 1,08,393 tonnes in May. The largest shipment of lentils in May went to the United Arab Emirates (33,800 tonnes), followed by Turkey (19,361 tonnes), with India in third place (9334 tonnes).
In the first 10 months of the current marketing season (August 2024 to May 2025), Canada exported 16,93,349 tonnes of lentils, an increase of 2.89 lakh tonnes over the 14,04,248 tonnes exported during the same period of the previous season.
In contrast, pea exports dropped from 2,14,681 tonnes in April to 1,00,579 tonnes in May. Of this, 52,609 tonnes were shipped to India, 20,000 tonnes to Cuba, and 5895 tonnes to the United States.
China was notably absent from the list of top buyers, following its imposition of a 100 percent import duty on Canadian peas in March.
Between August 2024 and May 2025, Canada exported 20,95,277 tonnes of peas, significantly lower than the 23,32,191 tonnes exported in the same period of the previous marketing season.
Exports of Kabuli chickpeas (gram) also increased, rising from 18,423 tonnes in April to 26,221 tonnes in May. Pakistan was the top buyer with 11,048 tonnes, followed by the US with 3318 tonnes and Turkey with 1590 tonnes.
Total exports of Kabuli chickpeas from Canada during August 2024 to May 2025 stood at 1,79,442 tonnes, slightly higher than the 1,75,526 tonnes shipped in the same period of the previous season. Imports of Kabuli chickpeas from Canada into India remain negligible.