Green Chickpeas Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Green Chickpeas Market size was estimated at USD 2.87 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 2.99 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 4.45% to reach USD 3.89 billion by 2032.

Green chickpeas are rapidly gaining prominence as a versatile and nutrient-rich crop within the global agri-food ecosystem, driven by evolving dietary trends and sustainability goals. As consumer preferences shift toward plant-based and protein-rich ingredients, green chickpeas offer a compelling combination of high fiber content, essential vitamins, and environmental benefits associated with legume cultivation. In recent years, the crop’s unique taste profile and adaptability in both culinary applications and value-added products have spurred interest across a spectrum of stakeholders, from farmers seeking resilient rotations to food manufacturers looking to innovate.

Moreover, the environmental credentials of green chickpeas align with broader industry commitments to regenerative agriculture and carbon footprint reduction. Nitrogen-fixing properties, low water requirements, and minimal fertilizer dependency position green chickpeas as a strategic crop for sustainable farming systems. Consequently, market participants are exploring new supply corridors, investment in advanced seed varieties, and collaborative initiatives between private enterprises and research institutions. As these factors converge, a nuanced understanding of market dynamics becomes essential for decision-makers aiming to capture emerging opportunities and mitigate risks in a maturing green chickpea landscape.

The green chickpea market is undergoing transformative shifts fueled by both consumer-driven and technological forces. On the consumer side, the surge in flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets has elevated demand for plant-based protein sources, propelling green chickpeas beyond traditional niche uses. Concurrently, heightened awareness of food origin and production ethics is prompting greater interest in organically sourced legumes, encouraging producers to adopt regenerative and low-input cultivation practices.

From a technological perspective, innovations in processing and preservation techniques are expanding the versatility of green chickpeas. Advances in freezing, canning, and dehydration methods are ensuring extended shelf life while retaining nutritional integrity, creating new product formats for retail and food service channels. Simultaneously, precision agriculture tools-such as satellite imagery and soil moisture sensors-are enabling optimized field management, which boosts yield predictability and resource efficiency. Finally, the rise of digital commerce and direct-to-consumer platforms is reshaping distribution models, allowing producers to engage end-users with traceability assurances and bespoke subscription offerings. Collectively, these shifts are redefining value chains and heightening competition across all stages of the green chickpea sector.

In response to escalating trade tensions and agricultural policy adjustments, the U.S. government introduced revised tariffs on green chickpea imports in early 2025. While the stated objective was to protect domestic growers, the new duty structure has reverberated throughout the supply chain, affecting pricing dynamics, procurement strategies, and competitive positioning. Importers now face higher landed costs for certain origins, prompting a strategic pivot toward alternative sourcing regions and increased domestic contracting.

As a result, downstream processors and food manufacturers are reassessing their raw material portfolios, balancing the trade-offs between cost, quality, and supply reliability. To mitigate margin pressure, some players have accelerated investment in local production partnerships, leveraging contract farming schemes to secure prioritized access. Conversely, a segment of the market is absorbing tariff impacts through incremental price adjustments or product reformulations to maintain value perceptions among end consumers. Looking ahead, the evolving tariff environment underscores the importance of agility in procurement operations, proactive hedging measures, and diversified sourcing to ensure resilience in the face of ongoing policy shifts.

A granular examination of the green chickpea market reveals distinct patterns across multiple segmentation dimensions, which collectively shape competitive strategies and investment decisions. Across product types, fresh green chickpeas command attention for premium applications, while frozen variants are gaining traction in ready-to-cook formulations, and processed forms-such as purees and flour-enable incorporation into bakery and snack products. Meanwhile, the source dimension differentiates conventional cultivation techniques from organic production, which continues to enjoy a price premium in health-conscious markets.

In terms of packaging, bulk formats remain prevalent for industrial buyers, whereas retail-focused packaging innovations-such as resealable pouches and single-serve cups-are driving convenience-oriented consumption. Distribution channels also exhibit varied dynamics: offline sales persist through supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialty food stores, and convenience outlets, yet online platforms are rapidly capturing share by offering direct-to-consumer deliveries and subscription models. Finally, end-use segmentation underscores bifurcated demand drivers, with food and beverage applications dominating due to culinary versatility, even as an emerging segment leverages chickpea byproducts for animal feed formulations. Together, these layers of segmentation highlight tailored growth opportunities and inform targeted roadmap development for market entrants and incumbents.

Regional dynamics in the green chickpea market underscore divergent growth trajectories and strategic priorities across geographies. In the Americas, rising consumer demand for plant-based proteins is catalyzing local processing capacity expansions, particularly in North America, where both production and consumption are on the upswing. Market participants are also investing in cold-chain infrastructure to facilitate exports to Latin American markets, which show burgeoning interest in legumes as a staple component of emerging foodservice menus.

Over in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, regulatory frameworks and subsidy policies are shaping cultivation incentives and supply flows. While EU organic certification requirements propel demand for sustainably farmed chickpeas, Middle Eastern import dependencies are driving trade partnerships with EMEA producers. Africa, with its untapped arable land and favorable climate in regions such as East Africa, is gradually emerging as both an export hub and a site for foreign direct investment in agritech ventures. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets are witnessing a dual phenomenon: traditional legume consumption patterns in South Asian countries coexist with fast-growing import markets in East Asia, where innovative snack products and functional foods are attracting millennial consumers. These regional nuances are critical for aligning market entry and expansion strategies.

The competitive landscape of the green chickpea sector is characterized by a mix of established agricultural cooperatives, ingredient processors, and vertically integrated food companies. Leading players have differentiated through strategic initiatives such as proprietary seed breeding, investments in freeze-drying and milling facilities, and partnerships with retail brands to launch branded legume products. At the upstream level, seed developers are focusing on high-yield, climate-resilient varieties, while processors are expanding capacity to meet the rising demand for value-added chickpea ingredients in plant-based meat analogs and fortified snacks.

Additionally, a number of startups are disrupting traditional supply chains by leveraging blockchain technology to enhance traceability and by offering direct-farm-to-table solutions via digital marketplaces. Strategic alliances between agritech innovators and multinational food corporations are facilitating pilot programs for precision farming and sustainable packaging materials. Overall, the interplay between legacy agribusinesses and agile market entrants is fostering a dynamic environment where continuous innovation and supply chain optimization are paramount to maintaining competitive advantage.

Industry leaders should prioritize a multi-pronged strategic approach to harness the full potential of the green chickpea market. Initially, organizations must invest in product portfolio innovation, exploring novel formats such as fermented chickpea ingredients or protein-enriched beverage bases to capture premium segments. Simultaneously, strengthening ties with contract growers and cooperative networks can secure reliable supply while advancing sustainability credentials through regenerative farming collaborations.

Moreover, enhancing digital engagement via e-commerce platforms and data-driven customer insights will enable more personalized marketing and dynamic pricing models. Companies should also evaluate strategic partnerships along the value chain, including joint ventures for processing capacity expansion or co-development agreements with food service operators. Finally, proactive advocacy efforts with policymakers can shape supportive regulatory frameworks, particularly around tariff negotiations and organic certification standards. By executing these targeted initiatives, industry stakeholders can fortify their market positions and achieve long-term growth in an increasingly competitive landscape.

This analysis was underpinned by a rigorous research methodology combining both primary and secondary data sources. Primary insights were obtained through in-depth interviews with key industry stakeholders, including farmers, distributors, and product development executives, to understand on-the-ground challenges and emerging opportunities. Concurrently, surveys were conducted among end-users to gauge consumption preferences and willingness to pay for differentiated green chickpea products.

Secondary research entailed a comprehensive review of agricultural policy documents, trade publications, and academic literature to contextualize market shifts and tariff impacts. Quantitative data were triangulated across governmental trade databases, import-export registries, and company annual reports to validate segmental trends and regional flows. Finally, a structured framework was applied to segment the market by product type, source, packaging, distribution channel, and end-use, ensuring consistency in comparative analysis. Together, these methodological pillars delivered a robust foundation for the insights and recommendations presented throughout this report.

In summary, the green chickpea market presents a compelling convergence of nutritional demand, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation. Transformative shifts in consumer behavior and processing capabilities are creating fertile ground for both established players and new entrants. However, evolving tariff policies and segmentation complexities necessitate strategic agility and data-driven decision-making. Regional insights highlight the importance of tailoring approaches to distinct market conditions across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, while company profiles emphasize the ongoing race for innovation in seed genetics, processing, and digital traceability.

Looking forward, industry participants that effectively integrate supply chain resilience, product diversification, and engagement with regulatory frameworks will be best positioned to thrive. The actionable recommendations provided herein-ranging from strategic partnerships to targeted product development-offer a blueprint for capitalizing on the burgeoning opportunities within the green chickpea sector. As market dynamics continue to unfold, stakeholders who proactively adapt their strategies will be poised to lead in one of the most dynamic and impactful agri-food markets of the coming decade.

To acquire the comprehensive market intelligence detailed in this report and stay ahead in the dynamic green chickpea landscape, reach out to Associate Director Ketan Rohom. His expertise in market trends, tariff impacts, segmentation analysis, and regional dynamics will guide you in tailoring strategies that align with your organizational goals. Engaging with Ketan Rohom ensures you gain direct access to in-depth insights, expert validation, and bespoke advisory services that can inform product development, sourcing strategies, and go-to-market plans. Don’t miss the opportunity to leverage this specialized research to build resilient supply chains, optimize your competitive positioning, and unlock growth potential in the green chickpea sector. Contact Ketan Rohom today to discuss how this detailed market research report can be customized to your needs and to initiate the process of transforming data into actionable strategies for success in one of the fastest-growing crop markets.