Pulses: Australian chickpea prices stay strong

By Dave Sims, Commodity News Service Canada

Winnipeg, March 18 – Following are a few highlights in the Canadian and world pulse markets on Friday, March 18.

– Chickpea prices took a minor dip recently in Mumbai as fresh arrivals made their way into major markets. However, that trend is expected to reserve soon due to winds and hailstorms that have damaged many crops across central and northern India, according to reports out of the country.

– Prices for old crop chickpeas in Australia are attracting bids of AU$1050 a tonne while prices for new crop are about AU$800, according to a report queenslandcountrylife.com.

– Russian exports of peas declined slightly in the second week of March. According to data from APK-Inform Agency, pea export volumes were approximately 11,000 tonnes for the period.

– The University of California has received a US$1.6 million grant to sequence the cowpea genome. The money comes from the National Science Foundation, according to its website.

– Small red beans are drawing prices of 40 cents (CDN) per pound at elevators across the Canadian Prairies. Those same beans are getting prices of 38 cents (CDN) per pound in Michigan and 46 cents (CDN) per pound in Washington and Idaho, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire.