The biggest importer of Australian chickpeas in recent months has been Pakistan, where the pulse is a key ingredient for home cooks and street vendors like this one in Rawalpindi.  Photo: Pakistan Street Food

AUSTRALIA exported 66,623 tonnes of chickpeas and 76,610t of lentils in May, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Both show significant increases from the April totals, with the chickpea number up 21 per cent, and lentils up a startling 62pc.

Pakistan in May held its position as Australia’s biggest chickpea market by far, taking 73pc of total shipments, as it continued its import program to bolster supplies from its own crop.

The United Arab Emirates and Nepal with 5885t and 3512t respectively were Australia’s second-biggest chickpea markets for May shipment.

In lentils, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were the biggest markets by far, taking 32,073t and 28,630t respectively, or 79pc of the May total collectively.

Pakistan with 11,352t was Australia’s third-biggest market for lentils in May.

Australia shipment of lentils to Sri Lanka in May was triple the April figure, and this was the main driver for the overall lift.

Table 1: Australian chickpea exports in March, April and May 2021. Source: ABS

Table 2: Australian lentil exports in March, April and May 2021. Source: ABS