Dried shelled legumes market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

The Spanish dried shelled legumes market showed considerable fluctuation from 2018 to 2023. Supported by a growing consumer preference for vegetable-based diets, consumption increased in 2018. The most dramatic shift occurred in 2020 when COVID-19 lockdowns prompted widespread stockpiling, pushing sales to exceptional levels.

Post-pandemic normalization led to a market correction in 2021-2022. During this phase, cooked legumes solidified their position as the preferred household choice, while dried varieties lost share. Product innovation, especially in ready-to-eat and plant-based segments, helped maintain demand even as domestic production faced challenges from falling yields in 2022.

A turnaround came in 2023 as legume cultivation expanded markedly in Castilla y León, with national harvested area jumping 62.4% and output surging 92%. This production boost, coupled with ongoing innovation in cooked legume formats, drove market volume back to 1.4 million tons.

Production dried shelled legumes in Spain

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain ranked 27th globally in the production of dried shelled legumes.

Top producers of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Spain produced 1 140.9 thousand tonnes of dried shelled legumes, representing a significant increase of 41.8% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 30.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.2%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 804.3 thousand tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 1 378.4 thousand tonnes. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 41.6%, whereas the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 57.2%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period, with a peak in 2018 and a trough in 2019, resulting in a 1.8-fold swing between these years. In 2020, the output of dried shelled legumes in Spain was valued at 1 600 million US dollars, marking a 33.7% increase from 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 196 million US dollars, and the highest in 2018 at 2 185 million US dollars. The most significant decline was in 2019, falling by 45.2%, while the largest increase was in 2018, surging by 74.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Spain in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports dried shelled legumes from Spain

Exports in kind, K t

Following a two-year decline, Spain's exports of dried shelled legumes increased in 2020, reaching 40.8 thousand tonnes, which is a 33.0% improvement over the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 4.2%, with an average annual decline of 1.4%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 30.6 thousand tonnes, and the largest decline occurred in 2018, dropping by 22.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Spain's exports of dried shelled legumes in kind were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. Portugal accounted for 15.7% of exports, Morocco for 15.5%, and France for 12.4%, with these three countries together representing just 43.7% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

After a two-year reduction, Spain's cross-border shipments of dried shelled legumes in value terms increased in 2020, totaling 57.1 million US dollars, a sharp gain of 25.4% compared to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 6.1%, equating to an annualized decline of 2.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 45.6 million US dollars, and the largest decline was in 2018, falling by 14.6%.

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

The structure of Spain's exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 can be described as diversified. The United Kingdom held 16.5% of exports, Germany 16.2%, and the Netherlands 14.5%, with these three countries together accounting for only 47.2% of total flows, and no single country dominated the market.

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

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

Imports dried shelled legumes to Spain

Imports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment, with a 3.1-fold variation between the maximum in 2018 and the minimum in 2017. In 2020, Spain's imports of dried shelled legumes totaled 363.5 thousand tonnes, a 5.6% decrease from the previous year. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 780.4 thousand tonnes, and the largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 50.6%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 214.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for Spain's imports of dried shelled legumes in kind were Russia, accounting for 21.9% of imports, Ukraine with 20.1%, and the United States at 12.6%. Together, these three countries represented 54.6% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Spain imported approximately 226.3 million US dollars worth of dried shelled legumes, marking a 5.7% year-on-year advance. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 214.1 million US dollars, and the highest in 2018 at 320.7 million US dollars. The most significant decline was in 2019, falling by 33.2%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 43.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner landscape for Spain's imports in value terms was broad. The United States accounted for 21.6% of imports, Argentina for 17.2%, and Canada for 10.7%, with these three countries together forming only 49.4% of total flows, while the remaining 50.6% was supplied by many other countries.

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

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