March 2, 2026
Gonzalo De La Cierva, CEO of Industrias Racionero, shares his picture of the Spain pulse market in 2026 — from renewed nostalgia and rising consumption to pessimism ahead of the seedings, and why this year could see another increase in import demand.
The domestic market has increased, which I attribute to a really wet year we had in Spain in 2025 – it was a record year for rain, especially in the central and southern areas. I think this motivates people to have a lot more pulses, because it's a seasonal food. People tend to eat fewer pulses when it's hot.
Both dry and cooked pulse consumption has increased a lot, but the cooked sector has grown more quickly. It’s a continuation of the trend toward eating the pre-prepared products that we’ve seen over recent years.
READ THE FULL ARTICLETraditional lentil dishes are regaining popularity in Spain, as consumers reconnect with familiar recipes amid a wetter year and rising demand
Chickpea fields in southern Spain face weather-related challenges, contributing to cautious seedings and expectations of stronger import demand in 2026.
“People aren't only eating them because they're healthy; pulses appeal emotionally,” says De La Cierva.
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