Kazakhstan Boosts Lentil Production and Exports

14-Aug-2025 02:03 PM

Dubai. Although Canada remains the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils, where its production reached more than 24 lakh tonnes in the year 2024 and with this its share in the global market increased to more than one-third, but now it is facing tough challenge or tough competition from some other countries in certain markets.

This includes Kazakhstan and Australia as well as Russia and America. Turkey is a traditional important importer of Canadian lentils, but now Kazakhstan is rapidly expanding its reach there.

Meanwhile, Australia's focus is on the markets of South Asia, which includes India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan etc. Last year, lentil production was affected due to drought in Australia, but this year the condition of the crop remains good.

As far as India is concerned, there is a good production of lentils here, but it falls far behind the domestic demand and requirement. As a result, there is a need to import it heavily from abroad every year.

India is considered to be the biggest importer of lentils. Earlier, India used to import lentils from Canada and Australia in large quantities, which is still continuing, but meanwhile, efforts are being made to increase imports from Kazakhstan as well.

In fact, lentil production in India has almost stagnated within a certain limit, while its domestic demand and consumption is increasing rapidly. Turkey, Russia and America also produce good lentils, while domestic consumption there is comparatively very low.

Lentil exporters of Kazakhstan get the advantage of proximity to Central Asia, Middle East and Europe and its exports are increasing well from there. This is encouraging the producers to increase the production of lentils.

The price of its product has remained at a competitive level and special emphasis is being laid on improving the quality of lentils there.

But it is also facing some challenges and problems. Often the weather there becomes changeable and there is a fluctuation in the prices of lentils.

Sometimes the production falls due to rain. Unlike Australia or Canada, Kazakhstan does not have access to the sea as it is surrounded by different countries on all four sides, so it faces transportation problems.