Harvesting chickpeas on Qld’s Darling Downs in October 2025. Photo: Wayne Newton

AUSTRALIA exported 27,120 tonnes of chickpeas and 85,003t of lentils in March, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The chickpea figure is less than 10 percent of the February total, while the lentil figure is little under half the February figure, with both drops reflecting the absence of cargoes to India.

On March-shipped chickpeas, Pakistan on 7488t, India on 6979t and the United Arab Emirates on 2715t were the three biggest markets.

On lentils, Bangladesh on 35,635t, Sri Lanka on 25,223t, and Nepal on 8390t were the three biggest markets.

Australia’s March 2025 chickpea exports came in at 71,779t, and lentils at 105,101t.

Bulk exports of both pulses have slowed considerably since last month, with Lachstock Consulting’s latest vessel line-up report indicating a combination cargo is loading this month with lentils in Victoria and chickpeas in Queensland, and one cargo of lentils is loading in South Australia.

The outbreak of war between Iranian and US forces has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessels sailing to and from Australia.

For this reason, Australia’s exports of chickpeas and lentils to the UAE are expected to be negligible from April onward until hostilities cease which threaten shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Table 1: Australian chickpea exports from October 2025 to March 2026. Source: ABS

Table 2: Australian lentil exports from October 2025 to March 2026. Source: ABS

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