Growers are warning of a global chickpea shortage
which could jeopardize hummus supplies just as grilling season begins, in a development that could have severe consequences for countries that rely on the pulses as an essential source of protein.
According to the Global Pulse Confederation, supplies of chickpeas could drop by up to 20% this year due to poor weather and the Ukraine conflict.
According to Navneet Singh Chhabra, director of Shree Sheela International, a global chickpea trader and brokerage firm, sanctions imposed following Ukraine’s invasion have disrupted shipments from Russia, which is usually a top chickpea exporter accounting for about a quarter of global trade.
Meanwhile, due to the war, Ukraine could not seed its entire chickpea crop, removing 50,000 tonnes destined for Europe.
Russia exports at least 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year
When the war began in February, the supply was destroyed,” Jeff Van Pevenage, CEO of Columbia Grain International, a grain and pulse merchandiser, and supplier based in Portland, Oregon, told Reuters.
“Demand skyrocketed when the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted. We had high demand from China, followed by calls from customers in Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
After Turkey issued an export ban, south Asian and Mediterranean buyers attempted to scoop up dwindling stocks. At the same time, yields from Mexico to Australia have fallen due to weather woes, including flooding.
According to data provided by the research group Assosia, the price of a variety of hummus products in major British supermarkets has risen by up to 100% since January. However, the picture is mixed, with some prices remaining unchanged and others rising by a more modest 6% or 10%. According to NielsenIQ data from Reuters, chickpeas are now 12 percent more expensive than last year and nearly 17 percent more costly than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chickpeas are an essential protein source in India and the Middle East
where households struggle to cover rising food import costs such as wheat.
Farmers in the United States, the world’s fourth-largest exporter of chickpeas, planted 5% fewer acres this year due to poor weather, and they prioritized more lucrative commodity crops such as wheat and corn. According to the US government, the country’s stocks are down more than 10% from last year. Stockpiles were already low after devastating droughts from North Dakota to Washington state impacted production in 2021.
According to Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agriculture brokerage Ikon Commodities in Sydney, some Australian farmers may replant.
“Part of the cropping area is still underwater,” he added, adding that Australia exports chickpeas primarily to the most consuming markets of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
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