Hummus supplies plummet as weather and war in Ukraine cause chickpea shortage
Producers warn of a global shortage of chickpeas, putting hummus supplies at risk, in a development that could have serious consequences for countries that depend on pulses as an essential source of protein.
Chickpea supplies could fall by up to 20% this year, according to the World Pulse Confederation, as harsh weather and war in Ukraine have affected production.
Sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine halted shipments from Russia, which is generally one of the main exporters of chickpeas and accounts for about a quarter of global trade, according to Navneet Singh Chhabra, director of Shree Sheela International, a global chickpea company. trader and brokerage firm.
Ukraine, meanwhile, was unable to sow its total chickpea crop due to the war, cutting out 50,000 tons that are usually destined for Europe.
“Russia exports around 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes, at a minimum, per year. When the war started in February, the supply was totally destroyed,” Jeff Van Pevenage, managing director of Columbia Grain International, a grain and pulse merchant and supplier headquartered in Portland, New York, told Reuters. 'Oregon. ="dcr-xry7m2">"When the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, demand exploded. We saw strong demand from China and then customer calls in Pakistan and Bangladesh."
< p class="dcr-xry7m2">Demand outstrips supply as buyers in South Asia and the Mediterranean try to recoup dwindling stocks after Turkey issued an export ban, while that yields from Mexico to Australia have fallen due to inclement weather, including flooding.The price of a range of hummus products in the Britain's leading supermarkets have risen by up to 100% since January, according to data provided to the Guardian by research group Assosia.However, the picture is mixed, with some prices unchanged and others up more modestly by 6% or 10% In the United States, chickpeas are now 12% more expensive than they were last year and nearly s 17% more expensive than before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to NielsenIQ data seen by Reuters.
Chickpeas are a key source of protein in India and in the Middle East, where households are already struggling to cover the rising costs of food imports such as wheat.
Farmers in the United States - the world's fourth-largest chickpea exporter - planted 5% fewer acres this year as bad weather bogged down planting spring and they prioritized more lucrative staple crops such as wheat and maize. Stocks nationwide are down more than 10% from a year ago, according to the US government, as stocks were already low after devastating droughts from North Dakota to Washington state affected production in 2021.
Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agricultural brokerage firm Ikon Commodities in Sydney, said some Australian farmers may be replanting.
< p class="dcr-xry7m2">"Parts of the planted area are still under water," said Houe, who added that Australia exports chickpeas mainly to major consumer markets, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Producers warn of a global shortage of chickpeas, putting hummus supplies at risk, in a development that could have serious consequences for countries that depend on pulses as an essential source of protein.
Chickpea supplies could fall by up to 20% this year, according to the World Pulse Confederation, as harsh weather and war in Ukraine have affected production.
Sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine halted shipments from Russia, which is generally one of the main exporters of chickpeas and accounts for about a quarter of global trade, according to Navneet Singh Chhabra, director of Shree Sheela International, a global chickpea company. trader and brokerage firm.
Ukraine, meanwhile, was unable to sow its total chickpea crop due to the war, cutting out 50,000 tons that are usually destined for Europe.
“Russia exports around 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes, at a minimum, per year. When the war started in February, the supply was totally destroyed,” Jeff Van Pevenage, managing director of Columbia Grain International, a grain and pulse merchant and supplier headquartered in Portland, New York, told Reuters. 'Oregon. ="dcr-xry7m2">"When the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, demand exploded. We saw strong demand from China and then customer calls in Pakistan and Bangladesh."
< p class="dcr-xry7m2">Demand outstrips supply as buyers in South Asia and the Mediterranean try to recoup dwindling stocks after Turkey issued an export ban, while that yields from Mexico to Australia have fallen due to inclement weather, including flooding.The price of a range of hummus products in the Britain's leading supermarkets have risen by up to 100% since January, according to data provided to the Guardian by research group Assosia.However, the picture is mixed, with some prices unchanged and others up more modestly by 6% or 10% In the United States, chickpeas are now 12% more expensive than they were last year and nearly s 17% more expensive than before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to NielsenIQ data seen by Reuters.
Chickpeas are a key source of protein in India and in the Middle East, where households are already struggling to cover the rising costs of food imports such as wheat.
Farmers in the United States - the world's fourth-largest chickpea exporter - planted 5% fewer acres this year as bad weather bogged down planting spring and they prioritized more lucrative staple crops such as wheat and maize. Stocks nationwide are down more than 10% from a year ago, according to the US government, as stocks were already low after devastating droughts from North Dakota to Washington state affected production in 2021.
Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agricultural brokerage firm Ikon Commodities in Sydney, said some Australian farmers may be replanting.
< p class="dcr-xry7m2">"Parts of the planted area are still under water," said Houe, who added that Australia exports chickpeas mainly to major consumer markets, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.What's Your Reaction?
