Largest Canadian chickpea crop in over two decades

Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm—Canadian chickpea production hit its largest level in over two decades in 2024, although the increased supplies have cut into prices.

Statistics Canada’s model-based estimates released Sept. 16 pegged the country’s chickpea production for the 2024-25 marketing year at 327,200 tonnes. The crop was revised slightly lower from August, but roughly double the 159,100 tonnes grown in 2023 and compares with the five-year average of 172,400 tonnes. That marks the largest chickpea crop since 2001, when record seeded area saw Canadian chickpea production hit 455,000 tonnes despite poor yields.

The majority of Canada’s chickpeas are grown in Saskatchewan, with total production in the Prairie province up by 108 per cent on the year at 289,100 tonnes, according to StatCan. The Saskatchewan chickpea harvest is already in its final stages, according to the latest provincial government report that estimated 76 per cent of the crop was off the field as of Sept. 9.

While production is up, prices are down. Large calibre 10mm kabuli chickpeas are trading in the 40 to 43 cents per pound area, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with 9mm’s topping out at 42 cents and 8s at just under 40 cents. Those prices are about 10 cents off the levels seen at the same time a year ago.

Canadian chickpea ending stocks for 2023-24 came in at only 22,000 tonnes, according to StatCan. That compares with 93,000 tonnes the previous year and marks the tightest carryout since 2018.

Canada exported 187,500 tonnes of chickpeas in 2023-24, according to StatCan data, with an early outlook from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada forecasting a similar export program in 2024-25. As a result, ending stocks of the pulse crop should expand this year, limiting the upside potential of the market.