Australian Pulse Exports Hit by West Asia Crisis

18-Mar-2026 04:13 PM

Brisbane. Australia exports substantial quantities of pulses—particularly lentils, *Desi* chickpeas, and faba beans—to numerous countries across West Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf region; however, the Iran-Israel conflict threatens to disrupt these shipments.

Shipping freight rates and insurance costs for vessels bound for these destinations have surged significantly.

An interesting aspect of this situation is that, despite these adverse circumstances, pulse prices within Australia remain firm, as producers are unwilling to sell their produce at lower rates.

It is noteworthy that during the month of March, farmers in states such as South Australia and Victoria typically sell large volumes of faba beans and lentils.

They utilize the proceeds from these sales to purchase chemical fertilizers—including urea—in order to build up adequate stocks of agricultural inputs ahead of the winter crop sowing season, which commences in May.

However, Australia is currently experiencing a slowdown in urea imports from abroad; shipping traffic has ground to a halt due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz route. Consequently, Australian pulse producers are showing reduced interest in offloading their existing stocks.

In addition to the fertilizer crisis, farmers face the looming threat of difficulties arising from rising petroleum prices.

This is expected to drive up both shipping costs and domestic road transport expenses, which could, in turn, lead to an increase in fertilizer prices.

On a more positive note, substantial rainfall received in the aforementioned states during late February and early March has replenished soil moisture levels in the fields, providing a measure of relief to the farming community.