Global Chickpea and Pulse Supply: Crop Outlook and Availability for 2026

For manufacturers building chickpea and pulse ingredients into their products, visibility on where crops are grown, when they are harvested and how supply is shaping up is as important as the specification itself. This is a short overview of the global supply picture moving through 2026, focused on production and availability rather than price.

A larger global crop

Global chickpea production is expanding. Industry estimates put output at roughly 17.8 million tonnes for the 2025/26 season, modestly ahead of the previous year. After a tight period in 2025, when stored stocks carried much of the demand in key producing regions, larger harvests through late 2025 and early 2026 have eased the overall availability picture and broadened sourcing options.

Where the supply comes from

Chickpea production is concentrated in countries with semi-arid climates and an established pulse-growing tradition. Understanding the role of each origin helps explain how and when material reaches the market.

• India is the largest producer by a wide margin, accounting for well over half of global output. Its crop is grown over winter, sown around October and November and harvested in the February to April window. Indian production is largely directed at domestic consumption, so the size and timing of its harvest strongly influences how much imported material the rest of the world competes for.
• Australia is one of the most important export origins. It has just produced one of its largest pulse crops on record, with chickpea output in the region of two to two and a half million tonnes for 2025/26 and lentils at a record level. Its highly mechanised farming and strong export orientation make it a reliable bulk source for South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.
• Canada remains a leading supplier of pulses, particularly lentils and peas, and a key competitor to Australia in global trade.
• Mexico specialises in large-calibre Kabuli chickpeas. Its uniform, premium-grade material is favoured for industrial and premium retail applications, with exports directed to Europe, the Middle East and North America.
• Turkey is a long-established Mediterranean producer serving both domestic and regional export demand.
• Russia and Kazakhstan have expanded cultivation over the past decade, adding capacity aimed at Middle Eastern and Asian buyers.
• The United States increased production substantially in recent seasons, improving availability for buyers in the Americas.

Harvest timing shapes availability

Because the major origins harvest at different points in the year, the practical availability of a given grade shifts across the calendar. India’s winter crop comes off in the first quarter; Australia’s harvest lands toward the end of the year. For buyers, this means that the same specification can be more readily available from one origin than another depending on the month, and that planning purchases around these windows helps secure consistent supply.

What to watch on the supply side

• Weather and climate cycles. Much of the world’s pulse production is rain-fed. Drought cycles linked to El Niño have historically reduced output significantly in producers such as Ethiopia and India, and remain the single largest source of supply uncertainty from season to season.
• Trade policy. Import tariffs and duty relief in large consuming markets, India in particular, can redirect trade flows and change which origins are most active in the export market at any given time.
• Variety mix. Desi and Kabuli chickpeas are not interchangeable for every application, and their availability and origin profiles differ. Specifying the variety early avoids substitution problems later.

Demand continues to pull

Underneath the supply picture, demand for chickpea and pulse ingredients keeps growing, driven by gluten-free, plant-based and clean-label product development across bakery, snacks, meat alternatives and ready-to-eat foods. That steady demand is part of why broadening and securing supply across multiple origins has become a strategic priority for buyers rather than a routine purchasing task.

How Tradelink supports supply continuity

Tradelink International is a global bulk food ingredient supplier with more than 40 years of experience. We work across multiple producing origins for chickpeas, pulses and related ingredients, which allows us to match buyers with material suited to their specification and to plan around harvest availability. All supply is backed by full export documentation and certification.

To discuss chickpea and pulse supply for the season ahead, including origin, grade and destination port, contact our team at sales@tradelinkinternational.com.