October 8, 2026
Tewodros Yilma of Valam Global Trading joined us to talk through Ethiopia's pulse export picture this year. We discussed a steady, high-quality white pea bean harvest, a shift in red kidney beans to Kenya, China's growing role in mung, and the uncertainty of ongoing Red Sea disruption.
After the crop was fully harvested and marketed, we estimated actual production at around 50 KMT, so it came very much in line with our expectation.
Harvesting is now underway. Based on what we are seeing so far, we expect production to be around the normal level of last year. More importantly, the quality looks very good. From the small sample photos we have seen, the beans have good colour and uniform seed size, and of course, the crop is meeting the pesticide residue requirement needed for canning industries.
Unfortunately, chickpea exports have not recovered. Official export data shows a further decline in export volume. The situation remains difficult. India continues to have major influence on the market, while large international suppliers like Australia have kept pressure on price. Ethiopia has to compete through timing, specific quality, and finding destinations where we have a logistics or product advantage. But mostly, the issue is price. We couldn't compete when it comes to pricing.
READ THE FULL ARTICLEEthiopia’s red bean exports reached around 77 KMT in 2026, with Kenya taking the largest share at about 34 KMT as demand becomes more geographically diverse.
Ethiopia’s chickpea crop is seeded in October and November, with harvesting beginning in January and the new crop reaching the market around February.
Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this publication are those of the authors or quoted persons. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Global Pulse Confederation or its members.
