Chickpea Prices in Australia 2026

Discover up to date insights on Australian chickpea prices based on our unique industry knowledge and real-time data. Includes current and historical chickpea prices, with pricing data for commodity, wholesale and retail.

Chickpea Prices Today

Chickpea prices in Australia today are determined by which variety is being purchased. Desi are grown primarily for export with our domestic market a tiny proportion of overall usage. Kabuli chickpeas are exported, but our domestic consumption makes up a much more considerable proportion of the usage. Pricing depends on whether you are buying farmer dressed, machine dressed for bulk loading into vessels or containers, or bagged for use by local manufacturers or wholesalers. For domestic consumption there is a full load price, distributors pallet price, wholesalers’ price for bags on a mixed pallet and retail prices where it is purchased in smaller quantities and usually packed down. There is a significant difference in prices depending on where and how they are purchased in the supply chain.

Throughout 2025 chickpea prices came off a strong base. The commodity price delivered to Brisbane peaked above $900 per tonne in late 2024 as bulk vessels loaded for export, before falling steadily through the first half of 2025 as a bumper Australian crop moved through the system. By early 2026 the delivered Brisbane price had settled around $620 to $640 per tonne and has held in that range since. Retail prices have been slower to adjust, as they always are.

Chickpea Prices Per Kilogram (Australia)

To determine the chickpeas price per kg we are going to look at retail pricing history. The average retail price of chickpeas per kg is $4.03. This is based on canned and dried products in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and does not include organic chickpeas. Dried chickpea prices are lower than canned chickpeas prices, but home brand canned chickpeas will often undercut all other pricing as a loss leader. Coles and Woolworths both sell their own brand 420g can for around $1.00 which works out to $2.38 per kg. Loss leading can also influence lentil prices in Australia. The chickpea varieties in most Australian canned and dried product for sale is the more expensive Kabuli chickpea.

Desi Chickpeas Prices

Desi chickpeas (often sold as kala chana or Tyson chickpeas in ethnic retail) are available in specialty food stores and increasingly in the major supermarkets through brands like Katoomba. The average price of desi chickpeas per kg is $2.81. This is based on dried products in 1kg or larger bags from supermarkets and ethnic retailers. Buying in 2kg bags brings the price down slightly, with most products landing around $2.75 per kg at that size. These prices do not account for potential delivery costs that may be necessary with online shopping.

Kabuli Chickpeas Prices

The average price of Kabuli chickpeas per kg is $4.27, significantly higher than desi chickpeas. This is based on dried products in 1kg or larger bags. These prices do not account for potential delivery costs that may be necessary with online shopping. The price for Kabuli chickpeas is heavily influenced by size and variety. Standard 9mm Kabuli can be found from $3.49 per kg at ethnic retailers, while premium large grade Ord River and Kimberley Large chickpeas (11mm) command $7.45 to $8.99 per kg. That is a substantial premium for the largest varieties that are quicker to cook and have a better visual appearance.

Bulk Chickpea Prices

For an indication on bulk chickpea prices you should refer to the varietal pricing above and you can assume that there should be between a 10 to 30% discount for buying in greater volumes or in original packaging. When we refer to bulk we mean anything other than a 250g to 5kg retail package. The 5kg bags of desi chickpeas available from ethnic retailers at around $3.00 per kg represent the best value in smaller bulk sizes.

Wholesale Chickpea Prices

Wholesale chickpea prices are very dependent on the quantity being purchased but are assumed to be 40 to 60% cheaper than retail, allowing costs of retail sale, transport and pack down to be absorbed profitably. Chickpeas 25kg and chickpeas 20kg are the most typical wholesale sizes. Public wholesale pricing is difficult to find in 2026 as most suppliers require trade accounts, but based on the current commodity price of $620 to $640 per tonne delivered Brisbane, we estimate the wholesale price of 9mm Kabuli chickpeas is between $2.50 and $3.00 per kg in 25kg bags. This is broadly in line with where wholesale pricing sat in 2025.

What’s Driving Chickpea Prices in 2026

There are several factors pulling chickpea prices in different directions this year. Understanding them helps explain why retail prices have barely moved despite significant shifts at the commodity level.

India’s tariffs are back. India suspended import tariffs on chickpeas in May 2024 and Australian exports surged to around 1.4 million tonnes. That tariff-free window closed in March 2025 when India reimposed a 10% duty. The result has been a sharp pullback in Indian buying, with 2025-26 exports to India expected to fall significantly. India’s own rabi chickpea crop is performing well, further reducing their need for imported product. For Australian growers this has removed the biggest buyer from the table, and that is the single largest factor putting downward pressure on commodity prices.

Australia’s crop is big again. ABARES estimates the 2025-26 national chickpea crop at around 2.1 million tonnes. That is down slightly from the record in 2024-25 but still well above the ten year average. Queensland production is near its second highest on record. There is a lot of unsold stock sitting on farms, with growers adopting a measured selling strategy and only releasing enough to cover market shorts when vessels approach port.

The dollar is not helping exporters. The AUD has been sitting around 0.71 USD through early 2026. That makes Australian chickpeas more expensive in US dollar terms for overseas buyers, putting a ceiling on how far domestic delivered prices can rally. As one independent trader noted in Grain Central, “this dollar is really hurting.”

Alternative markets are absorbing some volume. With India pulling back, Pakistan has been an active buyer and Bangladesh purchased ahead of Ramadan. Container packers are competing with bulk exporters for available stock. But these markets cannot replace the volume India was taking, and the competition is keeping delivered prices in a relatively narrow band.

Retail prices lag commodity moves. The commodity price has come down significantly but supermarket shelf prices have barely shifted. This is normal. Retailers repackage and distribute through a long supply chain with fixed costs, and they adjust pricing slowly. It also works in reverse, which is why retail prices did not spike when commodity prices were at their peak.

The overall picture for 2026 is one of ample supply, constrained export demand, and a currency headwind. Domestic buyers may see some softening in delivered prices if growers begin to release more stock, but the floor is reasonably well supported by grower discipline and the cost of production. Retail prices are likely to stay in a similar range to 2025.

Originally posted August 2023. Updated in 2025 and 2026.