Dried shelled chickpeas market in Iran

Earlier Report Observations

The Iranian dried shelled chickpeas market demonstrated steady growth at the start of the period, rising from 212 thousand tons in 2018 to 219 thousand tons in 2019. Domestic production remained stable, supported by growing attention to the crop's agronomic benefits for soil fertility and the initiation of cultivation modernization measures in arid regions like Kermanshah and Kurdistan. However, emerging challenges such as suboptimal water resource management and increased reliance on chemical inputs began to pressure the agricultural sector.

From 2020 onward, climatic factors became the primary market driver. Severe drought in the northern half of the country, later expanding to provinces including Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and Yazd, led to a consistent decline in domestic chickpea output. To offset the shortfall, import volumes surged, peaking at 107 thousand tons in 2021 and propelling the total market size to a high of 274 thousand tons. The intensifying water crisis, exacerbated by aging infrastructure and rising production costs, continued to strain local producers. By 2022, despite sustained high imports, the market volume began to contract.

In 2023, the market dynamics shifted sharply as the total volume plummeted to 185 thousand tons. Although domestic production saw a modest recovery, imports collapsed to just 30 thousand tons—less than a third of the previous year's level. This drastic reduction in foreign supply was the key factor behind the market's contraction.

Production dried shelled chickpeas in Iran

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Iran ranked as the 11th largest producer of dried shelled chickpeas globally, placing it among the world's leading producers during this period.

Top producers of dried shelled chickpeas, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled chickpeas, 2017-2020

In 2020, Iran produced 190.2 K t of dried shelled chickpeas, marking a 2.2% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 17.1%, which translates to an annualized decline of 6.1%. The most significant drop occurred in 2018, with a 17.0% decrease, while 2019 saw the largest increase at 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Iran in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports dried shelled chickpeas from Iran

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes of dried shelled chickpeas from Iran showed notable fluctuations from 2017 to 2020. The lowest point was in 2017, while exports peaked in 2018 at 48.7 K t, representing a 6.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports reached 18.6 K t, a 39.7% increase year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 72.7%, and the most substantial increase occurred in 2018, surging by 543.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan and Iraq were the primary buyers of dried shelled chickpeas from Iran, together accounting for 80.8% of total exports in volume. The remaining share was distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The value of dried shelled chickpeas exports from Iran displayed an unstable trend between 2017 and 2020. The minimum was recorded in 2019 at 8.5 M $ US, while the maximum occurred in 2018 at 77.9 M $ US, resulting in a 9.2-fold variation. In 2020, exports totaled 11.7 M $ US, a 38.1% increase from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2019 at 89.1%, and the most significant increase was in 2018, rising by 618.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Pakistan and Iraq dominated as the top destinations for Iran's dried shelled chickpeas exports in value terms, jointly representing 85.8% of total flows. Smaller markets accounted for the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Iran in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried shelled chickpeas to Iran

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, imports of dried shelled chickpeas into Iran rebounded in 2020, reaching 64.3 K t, a sharp 67.7% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 span, imports decreased by 46.9%, with an annualized rate of decline of 19.0%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 38.3 K t, which also saw the largest drop of 45.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates (30.8% of imports in volume), Ethiopia (18.6%), and Russia (12.5%) were the main sources for Iran's dried shelled chickpeas imports, collectively making up 61.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year contraction, imports of dried shelled chickpeas into Iran increased in 2020, totaling 50.8 M $ US, a 63.2% rise from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 60.8%, equating to an annualized decrease of 26.8%. The minimum value was in 2019 at 31.1 M $ US, which also experienced the largest decline of 59.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, the United Arab Emirates (33.2% of imports in value), Ethiopia (20.0%), and Australia (11.3%) remained the key markets for Iran's dried shelled chickpeas imports in monetary terms, together accounting for 64.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Iran in value, 2017-2020