Chickpea Market Trends and Forecast
The future of the global chickpea market looks promising with opportunities in the direct consumption, snack, delicacies, and dip markets. The global chickpea market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.3% from 2025 to 2031. The major drivers for this market are the rising demand for plant-based proteins, the growing popularity of healthy snacks, and the increase in vegan & vegetarian diets.
• Lucintel forecasts that, within the type category, kabuli chickpea is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
• Within the application category, snack is expected to witness the highest growth.
• In terms of region, APAC is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
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Emerging Trends in the Chickpea Market
The chickpea industry is experiencing a profound shift, influenced by changing consumer tastes, health consciousness, and environmental sustainability. This fast-moving environment is driven by increasing demand for differentiated chickpea-based foods beyond foodÄX%$%Xs traditional usage into new food applications. Producers are responding to these changes through product line diversification, the adoption of new processing technologies, and the harnessing of chickpeasÄX%$%X nutritional and environmental advantages to satisfy the expectations of a globalized and health-oriented consumer market.
• Growing Demand for Plant Protein: The worldÄX%$%Xs move towards plant-based eating and flexitarianism is driving the biggest trend. Chickpeas are high in plant protein, which makes them a go-to food for vegetarians, vegans, and consumers wanting to eat less meat. This is fueling innovation in chickpea-based meat alternatives, dairy alternatives, and protein isolates, expanding the market from whole chickpeas into functional food ingredients.
• Expansion in Healthy Snacking Foods: Customers are increasingly looking for healthy and easy-to-consume snack foods instead of their conventional unhealthy counterparts. Roasted chickpeas, chickpea-flavored chips, and crackers have become extremely popular because they are high in fiber and protein and gluten-free. This trend has spurred the innovation of extensive ranges of flavored and value-added chickpea snacks for health-aware consumers seeking guilt-free indulgence.
• Gluten-Free and Allergen-Friendly Innovations: As the incidence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance, as well as other food allergies, continues to rise, chickpeas are being positioned as a safe and versatile ingredient for allergen-friendly and gluten-free products. Chickpea flour is being used more and more in baked goods, pasta, and other food items as a substitute for gluten. This trend opens up the market for chickpeas to consumers with particular dietary needs, making them more attractive as an inclusive food ingredient.
• Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Sourcing: Both consumers and manufacturers are increasingly aware of the environmental sustainability of food production. Chickpeas are environmentally friendly, renowned for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, which saves them from the use of artificial fertilizers and uses less water than most crops. It is generating increased focus on sustainable and traceable supply chains, with more environmentally aware consumers being drawn to such practices and pushing for responsible farming in the chickpea sector.
• Novel Food Applications Expansion: In addition to conventional applications such as hummus and curries, chickpeas are moving into novel and novel-like food applications. This trend involves chickpea-derived dairy substitutes such as milk and ice cream, protein powders from chickpeas for use in supplements, and even fermented chickpea products. The trend speaks volumes about the functionality of chickpeas as an ingredient and inspires food companies to enter novel product categories, expanding the market and providing new consumer experiences.
These new trends are essentially transforming the chickpea market by promoting innovation along the value chain, from production to consumption. Plant-based protein and healthy snacking are broadening the product range and customer base. The need for gluten-free and allergen-safe solutions is making chickpeas a more accessible food. Additionally, the interest in sustainability and new uses is turning chickpeas into a versatile, environmentally friendly, and highly nutritious ingredient for the food future.
Recent Development in the Chickpea Market
The chickpea industry has seen a number of important recent trends, which represent changing consumer needs, advances in food technology, and changes in global agricultural dynamics. These trends are generally defined by a greater emphasis on health and sustainability, broadened applications for products, and greater concern for supply chain efficiency. Growers and makers are heavily responding to these trends by developing new offerings and practices that address the diverse requirements of a health-aware and globally networked consumer base.
• Boom in Plant-Based Product Innovation: One of the key developments is the explosive growth of chickpea-based products for the plant-based and vegan consumer markets. This entails new versions of hummus, chickpea pasta, baking chickpea flour, and creative meat and dairy substitutes based on chickpea protein. The effect is a significant market value boost and expanded consumer reach, as chickpeas are framed as a healthy and versatile protein option for various diets.
• Health and Nutritional Focus: There is a greater focus on promoting chickpeas on the basis of their intrinsic health advantages, including high protein and fiber levels, low glycemic index, and gluten-free characteristics. This trend is affecting consumer consumption choices and propelling demand for chickpeas as a healthy food option. The effect is a change in consumer attitude, inducing higher usage of chickpeas in everyday diets and a choice for chickpea-based healthy snacks.
• Yield and Cultivation Advances: New advances in agricultural research and cultivation techniques are producing better chickpea varieties with higher yields, improved disease resistance, and tolerance to different climates. These include plans for drought-resistant and pest-resistant varieties to combat pests. The effect is enhanced stability in global supply, lower production cost, and improved food security, reducing the influence of climate variability on chickpea harvests.
• Expansion of Chickpea Snacks and Convenience Foods: The market has seen a noteworthy surge in ready-to-eat chickpea snacks, like roasted chickpeas with an assortment of seasonings, and easy-to-prepare chickpea-based ready meals. This innovation addresses the convenience need of the contemporary consumer without sacrificing health. The effect is greater availability and daily use of chickpeas, making them a fashionable on-the-go snack and swift meal ingredient.
• Market and Trade Digitalization: The market for chickpeas is increasingly making use of digital platforms to trade, analyze markets, and maintain supply chain transparency. Online platforms, data analytics software, and real-time pricing data are being used more often. The effect is enhanced efficiency in distribution and sourcing, better price discovery for buyers and farmers, and increased transparency in the supply chain, easing international trade.
These new trends are having a strong influence on the market of chickpeas by propelling its growth and diversification. A healthier and plant-based focus is creating new consumer bases. Improvement in cultivation is adding stability to the supply. Demand for easy-to-consume snacks is fueling daily consumption, and digital trade digitalization is enhancing market performance. All these trends taken together are reshaping the market of chickpeas into a more globalized, healthier, and dynamic industry.
Strategic Growth Opportunities in the Chickpea Market
The chickpea market presents many strategic growth opportunities in a wide range of applications, propelled by growing health awareness, dietary change, and the versatility of chickpeas as an ingredient. Capitalizing on these opportunities involves deep knowledge of changing consumer requirements and potential for innovation throughout the value chain. These avenues for growth go beyond historical applications and include functional foods, convenience foods, and special dietary niches, and so provide varied avenues for market growth and competitive differentiation.
• Plant-Based Meat and Dairy Alternatives: This is a fast-growing application field. Chickpea protein can be used strategically to create high-value, plant-based meat products and dairy product alternatives (e.g., burgers, sausages) and dairy products (e.g., milk, yogurt, ice cream). The effect is to reach into booming vegan and flexitarian markets, provide products that have acceptable texture and nutritional properties, and make chickpeas the central ingredient of future sustainable food systems.
• High-Nutrient-Value Snacks and Convenience Foods: There is a substantial opportunity to create innovative, ready-to-consume chickpea-based convenience foods and snacks. This encompasses roasted chickpeas with varied flavor profiles, chickpea puffs, or easy-to-use chickpea-based meal kits. The effect is meeting the demand for healthier on-the-go meals, increasing consumption occasions, and reaching a wider demographic, such as busy professionals and health-oriented consumers who want quick, healthy bites.
• Gluten-Free and Allergen-Friendly Baking and Pasta: As celiac disease and food sensitivities continue to rise, the market for gluten-free and allergen-friendly products increases. Chickpea flour is a great gluten-free substitute for baking, pasta, and other applications in the kitchen. The effect is tapping into a large niche market, offering safe and healthy options for those with dietary limitations, and expanding the uses of chickpea flour beyond its historical applications.
• Functional Food and Fortified Products: Chickpeas contain high levels of protein, fiber, and other micronutrients, which suit functional food uses. Examples range from enriching cereals, energy bars, or therapeutic nutritional supplements with chickpea protein or flour. The effect is to produce premium-value products tackling particular health issues such as digestive health, blood glucose management, or muscle building, which appeal to a health-oriented consumer group looking for additional nutritional benefits.
• Foodservice and Industrial Ingredients: Aside from retail, there is significant growth potential in selling chickpeas and chickpea derivatives (flour, protein isolates) to the foodservice market (restaurants, catering) and other industrial food makers. This includes bulk form for hummus manufacturing, falafel mixes, or as a starting point for sauces and dips. The effect is locking up large-volume contracts, stable demand, and becoming an approved ingredient supplier of choice for commercial-level food preparation and product formulation.
These strategic expansion opportunities are deeply influencing the chickpea market by pushing product diversification and value addition. This emphasis on plant-based alternatives is making chickpeas a central ingredient in sustainable food innovation. The establishment of healthy snacks and gluten-free products is widening consumer reach. In addition, the emphasis on functional foods and industrial use is expanding the marketÄX%$%Xs scope and economic importance, making the chickpea industry more dynamic and valuable.
Chickpea Market Driver and Challenges
The market for chickpeas is governed by a multifaceted interaction of different factors. Key drivers are the exploding demand for plant proteins globally, escalating consumer awareness of health, and the rising popularity of different cuisines with chickpeas. At the same time, the market is confronted by major challenges like the effects of climate change on crop yields of crops, supply chain disturbances, and strong competition from other legumes and protein sources. These economic, technological, and regulatory forces all together define the trajectory of the market, influencing production, trade, and overall market growth across all regions.
The factors responsible for driving the chickpea market include:
1. Increasing Demand for Plant Proteins: Global adoption of vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian eating is a key driver. Chickpeas are a low-cost, good source of plant protein, fiber, and micronutrients that are a mainstay in these diets. This driver substantially increases consumption of whole chickpeas, along with demand for chickpea-based ingredients in meat and dairy substitutes, thus broadening the market across various categories of food.
2. Growing Health and Wellness Awareness: Consumers are increasingly focusing on healthy food, looking for foods with nutritional value. Chickpeas are appreciated as having a low glycemic index, being gluten-free, and aiding in digestive health and weight control. This driver affects purchasing, with greater consumption of chickpeas becoming part of everyday diets and increased demand for healthy chickpea-based snacks and packaged foods.
3. Increasing Demand for Ethnic Foods: The food culture has globalized, which has resulted in the increasing popularity of Middle Eastern, Indian, and Mediterranean foods, all of which have chickpeas as a major ingredient. Hummus, falafel, and different curries are becoming popular in the mainstream globally. This driver boosts the consumption of chickpeas as an immediate food and also spurs demand for chickpea flour and other conventional chickpea foods.
4. Flexibility in Food Uses and Product Development: Chickpeas are extremely flexible, and their utilization can range across an array of food products beyond the common foods. This comprises pasta made from chickpeas, snacks, flours, protein isolates, and even aquafaba as a substitute for eggs. This driver encourages ongoing product innovation, through which manufacturers can develop new and attractive chickpea-based products to serve changing consumer tastes and nutritional requirements, making the market vibrant.
5. Sustainability Benefits and Environmental Awareness: Chickpeas are also an environmentally friendly crop because they have the capacity to fix nitrogen in the soil, thereby decreasing the use of synthetic fertilizers, and they have a relatively low water footprint compared to animal farming. With the increasing environmental awareness among consumers, the sustainability of chickpeas makes them an important purchasing factor. This driver puts the market in line with international sustainability objectives, making it more attractive to environmentally concerned consumers.
Challenges in the chickpea market are:
1. Climate Change and Weather Volatility Impact on Yields: The growth of chickpeas is greatly reliant on particular climatic conditions. Irregular weather conditions, like droughts, heavy rainfall, or seasonal temperature variations, can significantly affect crop production and quality. This issue results in supply volatility, price instability, and severe economic risks for farmers and the entire supply chain, thereby making consistent sourcing challenging.
2. Trade Barriers and Supply Chain Disruptions: The international chickpea market is usually plagued by inefficiencies in supply chains, bottlenecks in logistics, trade barriers, or export controls by leading producer nations in case of domestic shortage. Such disruptions can cause considerable price volatility and impede the free flow of chickpeas through the global markets, affecting price availability and affordability for buyers and processors alike.
3. Competition from Other Legumes and Protein Sources: Although chickpeas are favored, they are being competed against by other legumes like lentils, peas, and soybeans, which provide comparable high protein and versatility. On top of that, many other proteins from animals and new plant proteins are part of the overall protein market. This competition needs chickpea growers and processors to continuously distinguish their products and promote the sole advantages of chickpeas to sustain their marketplace share.
Overall, the market for chickpeas is witnessing impressive growth fueled by the global demand for plant-based proteins, heightened health consciousness, popularity of mixed cuisines, and versatility in a host of food applications, underpinned by the sustainability advantages. But this upward trend is tempered by the major challenges of the effect of climate change on crop yields, the possibility of supply chain disruption, and fierce competition from other protein sources. Navigating these drivers and challenges will be key to the continued growth and stability of the chickpea market.
List of Chickpea Companies
Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. With these strategies chickpea companies cater increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the chickpea companies profiled in this report include-
• BEAN GROWERS AUSTRALIA
• AGROCROPS
• Cargill Foods India
• BroadGrain Commodities
• Mast Qalander Group of Companies
• OLEGA
• Indraprasth foods
• JOVA GRANEROS
• Arbel
• Wimmera Grain Company
Chickpea Market by Segment
The study includes a forecast for the global chickpea market by type, color, form, application, and region.
Chickpea Market by Type [Value from 2019 to 2031]:
• Kabuli Chickpea
• Indian Chickpea
• Garbanzo Beans
• Others
Chickpea Market by Color [Value from 2019 to 2031]:
• Yellow
• Brown
• Green
• Red
Chickpea Market by Region [Value from 2019 to 2031]:
• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• The Rest of the World
Country Wise Outlook for the Chickpea Market
The chickpea industry is going through major worldwide changes, powered by a rising demand for vegetable-based proteins, greater health awareness among consumers, and the popularity of culinary diversity. Chickpeas, valued for their nutritional worth, versatility, and ecological advantages, are becoming an integral part of diets globally. This transformation is fueling product innovation, cultivation methodologies, and supply chain management in the most important markets such as the United States, China, Germany, India, and Japan, and each plays a distinct role in shaping the dynamic nature of the market.
• United States: The United States market for chickpeas is expanding strongly, led mainly by the burgeoning demand for plant protein substitutes and gluten-free foods. Hummus continues to be a leading use, but chickpea snacks, pasta, and meat alternatives are also experiencing strong growth. Consumers continue to look for healthier and sustainable food choices, which chickpeas easily fill. This trend drives new product development and increased import volumes to satisfy the increasing domestic demand.
• China: The Chinese chickpea market is growing fast, fueled by urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and mounting demand for healthier and more diversified diets, such as Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods. China is not a significant producer but is a major consumer and importer of chickpeas, with a huge market for chickpea flour and value-added chickpea products. Government efforts to support agricultural production and plant-based diets are adding to demand and opening up opportunities for overseas suppliers.
• Germany: The German market for chickpeas is dominated by a high focus on organic, sustainable, and high-quality plant-based foods. One of the main drivers for this trend is the growing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, driving consumption of chickpeas both in classic dishes and new products such as chickpea spreads and snacks. German consumers know and understand the health benefits and environmental benefits of chickpeas, and this drives domestic cultivation efforts as well as imports.
• India: India is the globeÄX%$%Xs biggest producer and user of chickpeas, and its market is dominated by domestic cycles of production and customary diet patterns. Most recent has been government encouragement for the cultivation of chickpeas through minimum support prices and research to enhance yield and disease resistance. Desi chickpeas are prevalent, but demand for Kabuli types is on the rise. The market is threatened by climate volatility but remains a pillar of world chickpea supply.
• Japan: The chickpea market in Japan is steadily growing, led by a changing eating pattern towards healthier foods and rising acceptance of vegetable proteins. A minor producer itself, Japan imports chickpeas for processing into a number of different products like soups, snacks, and meat substitutes. The government and food companies actively promote healthier food consumption, including the inclusion of chickpeas, in order to combat lifestyle-related health issues, thus supporting imports.
Features of the Global Chickpea Market
Market Size Estimates: Chickpea market size estimation in terms of value ($B).
Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2019 to 2024) and forecast (2025 to 2031) by various segments and regions.
Segmentation Analysis: Chickpea market size by various segments, such as by type, color, form, application, and region in terms of value ($B).
Regional Analysis: Chickpea market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.
Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different types, colors, forms, applications, and regions for the chickpea market.
Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape of the chickpea market.
Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model.
FAQ
Q1. What is the growth forecast for chickpea market?
Answer: The global chickpea market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.3% from 2025 to 2031.
Q2. What are the major drivers influencing the growth of the chickpea market?
Answer: The major drivers for this market are the rising demand for plant-based proteins, the growing popularity of healthy snacks, and the increase in vegan & vegetarian diets.
Q3. What are the major segments for chickpea market?
Answer: The future of the chickpea market looks promising with opportunities in the direct consumption, snack, delicacies, and dip markets.
Q4. Who are the key chickpea market companies?
Answer: Some of the key chickpea companies are as follows:
• BEAN GROWERS AUSTRALIA
• AGROCROPS
• Cargill Foods India
• BroadGrain Commodities
• Mast Qalander Group of Companies
• OLEGA
• Indraprasth foods
• JOVA GRANEROS
• Arbel
• Wimmera Grain Company
Q5. Which chickpea market segment will be the largest in future?
Answer: Lucintel forecasts that, within the type category, kabuli chickpea is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
Q6. In chickpea market, which region is expected to be the largest in next 5 years?
Answer: In terms of region, APAC is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
Q7. Do we receive customization in this report?
Answer: Yes, Lucintel provides 10% customization without any additional cost.
This report answers following 11 key questions:
Q.1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for the chickpea market by type (kabuli chickpea, Indian chickpea, garbanzo beans, and others), color (yellow, brown, green, and red), form (dried, fresh, canned, frozen, and others), application (direct consumption, snacks, delicacies, dips, and others), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)?
Q.2. Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?
Q.3. Which region will grow at a faster pace and why?
Q.4. What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the key challenges and business risks in this market?
Q.5. What are the business risks and competitive threats in this market?
Q.6. What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them?
Q.7. What are some of the changing demands of customers in the market?
Q.8. What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?
Q.9. Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are key players pursuing for business growth?
Q.10. What are some of the competing products in this market and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share by material or product substitution?
Q.11. What M&A activity has occurred in the last 5 years and what has its impact been on the industry?
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