Sharp Decline Projected in Australian Chickpea Production

05-Jun-2026 10:48 AM

Perth – Indications point to a significant reduction in the sowing area for chickpeas—a vital pulse crop—across Australia's two leading producing states, Queensland and New South Wales.

This decline is driven by adverse weather conditions and a lack of profitable returns for growers; additionally, average crop yields may also be slightly lower. Consequently, total chickpea production in the region could drop by approximately 50 percent this year compared to the previous year.

According to ABARES, a government agency, Queensland and New South Wales collectively account for about 95.5 percent of Australia's total annual chickpea production, with only minor output coming from other states.

For the 2026-27 season, chickpea sowing area is projected to fall by 49.2 percent to 300,000 hectares in New South Wales and by approximately 19 percent to 410,000 hectares in Queensland, compared to the 2025-26 season.

Similarly, production during the season under review is expected to plummet by 66 percent to 400,000 tonnes in New South Wales and decline by 33 percent to 650,000 tonnes in Queensland. This brings the combined production for both states to 1.05 million tonnes, a sharp drop from the over 2 million tonnes recorded in the 2025-26 season.

It is worth noting that Australia is the world's leading exporter of chickpeas, with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) serving as key buyers. The drastic fall in production will significantly reduce Australia's exportable chickpea stocks, potentially creating an environment for rising prices.