MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse exports continue at a solid pace through nine months of the 2022-23 marketing year, with old-crop prices trending higher over the past month as the market rations demand ahead of the new-crop harvest.
Canada has exported 1.713 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year to date, with Turkey the top destination at just under 500,000 tonnes followed by India at 383,400 tonnes, according to Statistics Canada data. That compares with 1.052 million tonnes of lentil exports through April of the previous crop year, with Turkey and India both bringing in nearly double the amount as reported the previous year.
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Pea exports of 2.176 million tonnes are up by 42 per cent, with China accounting for just over 1.2 million tonnes of the total. Other major importers of Canadian peas include Bangladesh, the U.S., and Pakistan. That compares with the 1.527 million tonnes of pea exports by the same time a year ago.
Canada has exported 188,800 tonnes of chickpeas through the 2022-23 crop year-to-date, with the United States the top destination followed by Turkey, Pakistan, Syria and Italy. The exports through April are well above the 107,400 tonnes that moved through nine months the previous year.
Large green lentils are currently trading in the 56-65 cents/lb. range in Western Canada, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with new-crop bids as high as 54 cents. Old-crop red lentils top out at 36 cents/lb., with the new crop only slightly lower at 34 cents.
Green peas delivered to the elevator are trading at roughly $13-$14.50 per bushel, with yellow peas in the $9.35-$12.80 area. New-crop pricing for the two crops tops out at $13.50 and $10.50 per bushel respectively.
Large-calibre Kabuli chickpeas are currently trading at around 47-50 cents/lb. according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, with new-crop bids topping out at 46 cents/lb.
Statistics Canada releases updated acreage estimates on Wednesday, with average trade guesses calling for slight declines in planted pea and lentil area on the year, and an increase in chickpeas.
— Phil Franz-Warkentin is an associate editor/analyst with MarketsFarm in Winnipeg.
