Dried shelled legumes market in Uruguay

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the market volume for dried shelled legumes in Uruguay experienced notable fluctuations, rising from 18 669 t in 2018 to a peak of 20 231 t in 2021 before contracting to 17 410 t in 2022 and stabilizing at 17 615 t in 2023. Domestic production remained steady at around 13 000 t annually, indicating that changes in overall market size were primarily driven by shifts in import volumes.

The sharp increase in market volume during 2020 and 2021 was closely tied to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which spurred a wave of precautionary stockpiling of non-perishable staples like legumes, leading to a significant rise in imports. The subsequent market correction in 2022 reflected a return to more typical consumption patterns as the immediate effects of the pandemic subsided.

Longer-term demand in the region is being shaped by broader trends, including a growing consumer shift in Latin America towards plant-based proteins and healthier diets driven by urbanization and changing lifestyles. Regional production shocks, such as the severe droughts affecting neighboring Argentina's legume crops in 2021 and 2023, also contributed to supply-side volatility, though Uruguay's domestic output remained resilient.

Production dried shelled legumes in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

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

Uruguay's production of dried shelled legumes has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 12,909 tonnes, which represents a 1.0% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 2.8%, translating to an average annual decline of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports dried shelled legumes from Uruguay

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Uruguay's exports of dried shelled legumes amounted to just 0.4 tonnes, marking a sharp drop of 95.8% from the previous year. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, exports plummeted by 99.5%, with an average annual decline of 83.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India and Brazil were consistently the main buyers of dried shelled legumes from Uruguay, together accounting for 99.5% of total exports by volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Uruguay's exports of dried shelled legumes in value terms reached 2,000 US dollars, reflecting a significant decline of 91.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value decreased by 94%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -60.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, India and Brazil continued to dominate as the top markets for Uruguay's dried shelled legume exports in value terms, together making up 96.1% of total export value, while other partners contributed only minor shares.

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

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

Imports dried shelled legumes to Uruguay

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Uruguay's imports of dried shelled legumes totaled 6,415 tonnes, showing a substantial increase of 55.0% over the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 23.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4,139 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 24.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Canada and Argentina were the two leading sources for Uruguay's dried shelled legume imports by volume, together accounting for 89.9% of total imports, with the remainder spread across various other countries.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market for dried shelled legume imports in Uruguay showed notable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 2,486,000 US dollars and peaked in 2017, with a 2.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, imports surged to 4,292,000 US dollars, representing a dramatic year-on-year increase of 72.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 41.4%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Canada and Argentina remained the primary sources for Uruguay's dried shelled legume imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 85.1% of total import value, while other partners each held significantly smaller shares.

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

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