Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian pulse exports are showing signs of slowing down entering the final months of the 2023/24 marketing year, as end users turn their attention to the looming availability of new crop supplies.
Canada has exported 1.286 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year-to-date, running about 25 per cent behind the pace at the same time a year ago, according to the latest Statistics Canada trade data through the end of April. Of that total, green lentils accounted for 337,500 tonnes and red lentils at 690,000 tonnes.
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Lentil exports during the month of 93,200 tonnes were down from 121,000 tonnes the previous month.
India has been the top destination for Canadian lentils during the marketing year, at 447,500 tonnes through nine months. Turkey had been the largest buyer at the same point a year ago, but their purchases have fallen off sharply in 2023/24, taking only 119,600 tonnes so far.
Canadian pea exports in April came in at only 60,060 tonnes, roughly half of what moved the previous month. However, year-to-date movement through nine months of the marketing year of 2.212 million tonnes were slightly ahead of the 2.178 million tonnes at the same point in 2022/23. Yellow peas account for just over three-quarters of the pea exports.
China holds the top spot for Canadian pea exports through April, at 973,100 tonnes, with India in second place at 730,000 tonnes. India was nonexistent as a pea buyer in 2022/23, with cuts to their import tariffs accounting for the increased movement this year.
Canadian chickpea exports in April came in at 10,800 tonnes, which was down from about 17,900 the previous month. Year-to-date shipments of 165,700 tonnes are running about one per cent behind the year ago pace.
Large green lentils are currently trading in the 72 to 78 cents per pound range in Western Canada, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with new crop bids around 52 to 55 cents. Old crop red lentils top out at 36 cents per pound, with the new crop only slightly lower at 33 cents.
Green peas delivered to the elevator are trading at roughly C$15.00 to C$18.50 per bushel, with yellow peas in the C$11.40 to C$13.00 per bushel area. New crop pricing for the two crops can be found as high as C$14.50 and C$12.35 per bushel respectively.
Large calibre Kabuli chickpeas are currently trading at around 43 to 45 cents per pound according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, with new crop bids topping out at 42 cents per pound.
