Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 hr ago
Australian chickpea prices surge towards $1,000 per tonne
Australian chickpea prices have surged this month, nearing $1,000 per tonne in some regions, up from about $600 earlier in the year.
The rise benefits growers who still have crops to sell, although some had already agreed to lower prices.
Global supply and shipping disruptions have made buyers more cautious about securing enough chickpeas.
Drier-than-average monsoon conditions in parts of India have also pushed up local prices.
Buyers are locking in supplies ahead of Ramadan, when demand for chickpeas and other pulses rises, including in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE.
Australia's 2026–27 crop is forecast to fall by 52 per cent to just over one million tonnes, though the forecast may be optimistic.
Prices may ease as harvest supplies increase, but the sources give no timeline for when that could happen.
Australian chickpea prices have surged this month towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions.
Prices were closer to $600 per tonne earlier in the year.
The rise is linked to global supply-chain volatility, lower-than-average monsoon rainfall in parts of India and demand ahead of Ramadan.
ABARES forecasts Australian chickpea production will fall by 52 per cent to just over 1 million tonnes in 2026–27.
Prices are expected to ease as harvest supply increases.
- Who
- Australian chickpea growers and buyers are involved. Grains Australia Pulse Council chair Peter Wilson described the market factors.
- What
- Chickpea prices have surged towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions.
- When
- Prices rose this month; the article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Australia, with reported prices in some regions and major growing areas in northern New South Wales and Queensland.
- Why
- Global logistics and supply-chain volatility, lower-than-average rainfall in parts of India, and buyers securing supply ahead of Ramadan are contributing to the rise.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
More than 38,000 tonnes of chickpeas were shipped from north Queensland to India and Pakistan.
The chickpea market was trading closer to $600 per tonne.
Delivered chickpea prices surged towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions.
Buyers are seeking to secure chickpea supplies, with Ramadan starting in early February.
- Recent prices
- Towards $1,000 per tonne in some regions
- Earlier-year prices
- Closer to $600 per tonne
- Forecast production
- Just over 1 million tonnes in 2026–27
- Forecast decline
- 52 per cent
- Grower yield
- About 1.2 tonnes per hectare for Lucas Findley
- North Queensland shipment
- More than 38,000 tonnes sent to India and Pakistan last October
What people are saying
We haven't seen $1,000 per tonne since 2024, so it's significant. It's a great price
For growers who have ended up with a decent [chickpea] crop, this is balance-sheet altering. There's no other way to describe it.
There's a lot of volatility globally right now, which is creating enormous turbulence in logistics and supply chains, which is keeping buyers on edge
High prices are always good for any commodity and I'm happy for anyone who can take full advantage of these prices