Russian pea exports rise 9.5% as Canadian shortage redirects Asian demand
Russia exported 1.18 million tonnes of peas in January-September 2026, up 9.5% year on year, according to zol.ru. China received 56.2% of shipments as lower Canadian production tightened supply to Asian markets.
Pea shipments reach 1.18 million tonnes
Russian pea exports totaled 1.18 million tonnes in January-September 2026, an increase of 9.5% from the same period of 2025, according to zol.ru. The expansion strengthened Russia’s position in the international pulse market at a time when buyers in Asia faced tighter availability from Canada, traditionally a major supplier of peas to the region.
Shipments were particularly concentrated in July, when Russia exported 415,000 tonnes. That monthly volume was 152% above the level recorded in July 2025. The unusually large movement indicates that exporters were able to mobilize substantial supplies when demand intensified, although the source did not provide monthly figures for the rest of the reporting period.
China accounts for more than half of exports
China remained the largest destination for Russian peas, receiving 56.2% of total exports. Turkey accounted for 14.8%, while Pakistan represented 9.7%. Together, the three markets absorbed the large majority of shipments, making Russian exporters heavily dependent on demand conditions, purchasing policies and logistics across a relatively concentrated group of destinations.
The shift was linked to a contraction in Canadian pea production to 2.95 million tonnes, zol.ru reported. Reduced Canadian availability created a supply shortage in Asian markets and opened additional space for Russian sellers. For Chinese importers and processors, greater access to Russian peas offered an alternative source at a time of constrained Canadian supply. For traders, the change also increased the commercial importance of routes connecting Russian production areas with China, Turkey and South Asia.
Pulse revenue reaches $412 million
Total Russian export revenue from all types of pulses amounted to $412 million, with an average price of $307 per tonne. These figures cover the broader pulse category rather than peas alone, so they cannot be used to calculate pea export earnings directly. They nevertheless show the commercial scale of Russia’s pulse trade as pea volumes expanded.
Chickpea exports also rose, increasing 28.4% year on year to 145,000 tonnes. Despite the faster percentage growth, chickpeas remained much smaller than peas in absolute volume. Pakistan and Afghanistan were the principal markets for Russian chickpeas, and zol.ru said shipments to both destinations increased severalfold. The combination of higher pea and chickpea exports gives Russian growers and merchants a broader outlet for pulse crops, but the destination mix remains concentrated. China’s 56.2% share of pea shipments means that changes in Chinese demand could have a disproportionate effect on Russian export volumes, while the durability of the current opportunity will also depend on the recovery of Canadian production.
