Kabuli Chickpeas: export from Canada to ASEAN

Kabuli chickpeas are sold by calibre (the count per unit weight) and calibre drives price more than any other attribute. Larger calibres command a premium and suit retail, canning and applications where the chickpea is presented whole. Smaller calibres are the value end and go to hummus, flour and processing.

Canadian kabuli production is concentrated in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, where the growing season suits the crop. Because chickpeas are more weather-sensitive than lentils or peas, calibre distribution shifts between seasons, and a buyer contracting a specific large calibre through a poor year should expect availability to be the binding constraint rather than price.

Beyond calibre, the specification points that matter are colour, defect and splits tolerance, and moisture. For canners, skin integrity and consistent hydration behaviour matter more than appearance in the bag.

The useful discipline for a buyer is to specify a calibre range rather than a single number, and to agree a tolerance for the distribution within it. For an exporter, being explicit about what a season can actually deliver builds more repeat business than promising a distribution the crop will not support.