AUSTRALIA exported 7665 tonnes of chickpeas in June, well down from May shipments of 19,244t, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Increased production of chickpeas in African nations is providing some competition for Australia in south Asian markets. Photo: ICRISAT

This reflects dwindling supplies of current crop, and minimal interest from markets other than Pakistan.

In the continued absence of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have been the volume buyers of Australia’s small 2019-20 chickpea crop, and are now sourcing some new-crop tonnage from East Africa.

East African nations are exempt from the tariff India has imposed on chickpeas, and they are believed to be exporting some tonnage into India as it chews through its new-crop stocks, and carry-out from last season.

Source: ABS