Brazil Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030

Brazil is not a traditional producer of chickpeas, but demand has increased in recent years, especially among health-conscious and urban consumers. The country relies on imports, mostly Kabuli chickpeas, as the domestic climate and crop system are still under trial. Small-scale cultivation is being tested in Goiás, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District, supported by Embrapa’s research on adapting chickpeas to Brazilian soil and dry seasons. Chickpeas have gained popularity in upper-income groups and among followers of plant-based diets, with use growing in Mediterranean, Indian, and Middle Eastern restaurants in cities like São Paulo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro. COVID-19 accelerated this shift as consumers turned to healthy, protein-rich legumes, and chickpeas appeared more frequently in food blogs, cooking shows, and Instagram-based nutrition channels. Influencers and chefs began using chickpeas in salads, hummus, burgers, and grain bowls, increasing awareness. Retailers report a consistent rise in chickpea sales, especially in natural food chains and urban grocery outlets. While Brazil’s overall chickpea production remains small, demand is met through imports mainly from Mexico, Argentina, Turkey, India, and Canada. Government recognition of chickpeas as a viable crop alternative is growing, and regulatory certifications such as MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento), SISORG (Brazil’s Organic Certification), INMETRO, and ISO 22000 are standard for packaged or imported pulses. These certifications are especially relevant for retail chickpeas and processed products targeting health food markets. The government has also included chickpeas in some nutrition campaigns promoting diversified legume consumption. However, chickpeas are still considered premium legumes, especially when compared to domestic staples like black beans, lentils, and soy.

According to the research report ""Brazil Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Brazil Chickpeas market is anticipated to grow at more than 3.23% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Chickpea cultivation in Brazil remains in its early stages, with limited acreage under production and an experimental approach led by agricultural research bodies like Embrapa Cerrados. Most domestic production occurs in the dry winter season in the Cerrado biome, using short-cycle Kabuli chickpea varieties that complete their growth in 85–100 days. In Goiás and parts of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, chickpea is rotated with maize or soybean to minimize soil degradation. However, as of 2023, less than 500 hectares of land in Brazil were dedicated to chickpeas, according to local farming cooperatives. Farmers face challenges with temperature sensitivity, rainfall dependency, and pest control, particularly in high-humidity zones. Due to these limitations, Brazil imports over 95% of its chickpea requirement, mainly from Argentina, Mexico, India, and Canada. In 2022, Brazil imported over 10,800 metric tons of chickpeas, with Argentina supplying over 55% of this volume, followed by Mexico and Turkey. CIF prices at Brazilian ports like Santos and Rio de Janeiro ranged between USD 1,100–1,400 per metric ton, depending on grade, origin, and packaging. The import supply chain includes wholesalers in São Paulo’s CEAGESP market, health food distributors, and specialty food importers. High logistics and container costs affect margins, particularly after global freight volatility in 2021–2022. Packaging and branding also add to costs, especially for imported canned chickpeas or private-label organic pulses. Processors and packagers often use ISO 9001 and HACCP-certified facilities to comply with Brazilian food safety laws. Retailers in São Paulo and Porto Alegre report stable seasonal demand, especially during Lent and wellness-focused campaigns.

Brazil’s chickpeas market is dominated almost entirely by Kabuli chickpeas, both in terms of imports and the little domestic production that exists. Kabuli types are preferred due to their large seed size, light beige color, and smoother texture, which aligns with Brazilian culinary applications like salads, stews, hummus, and gourmet vegetarian dishes. Desi chickpeas, which have smaller, darker seeds with a rough coat, are rarely seen in local markets or Brazilian food processing lines. In 2023, over 97% of Brazil’s chickpea imports were Kabuli type, sourced from Argentina, Mexico, and Canada. These imports primarily include grades with 7–8 mm seed size, though higher-end 9 mm sizes are found in premium organic stores in São Paulo and Curitiba. Desi chickpeas are only found in select ethnic or Indian grocery stores in cities like São Paulo, where South Asian or Middle Eastern populations reside. Desi chickpeas, often imported from India or the UAE, are brought in limited volumes and are mostly consumed by expatriates for dishes like chana masala or flour conversion into besan. The price gap between Kabuli and Desi chickpeas is minimal at the wholesale level, with Kabuli chickpeas selling for USD 1.20–1.50/kg in bulk, while Desi types range around USD 1.10–1.40/kg, depending on the origin, packaging, and currency fluctuations. Embrapa and private seed developers have trialed small-scale production of short-cycle Kabuli cultivars like BRS Aleppo and BRS Kalifa in Goiás and DF zones, which are adapted to Brazil’s cerrado climate. These varieties have shown better yields under irrigation and allow harvesting before rainy seasons. Brazilian consumers, especially urban populations, associate Kabuli chickpeas with Mediterranean and healthy-eating trends, often linked with gluten-free and protein-rich diets. Desi chickpeas lack mainstream promotion and visibility in Brazil’s traditional or health food marketing campaigns, which limits their penetration beyond niche markets.

In Brazil, whole dried chickpeas account for over 80% of total chickpea consumption, largely distributed through supermarkets, health food chains, and bulk food retailers. Most whole chickpeas sold in Brazil are imported Kabuli varieties, packaged in 500g or 1kg formats under brands like Camil, Tio Jorge, and Qualitá, priced between BRL 8 to BRL 14 per kilogram depending on location and retailer. These whole chickpeas are used in salads, soups, and Brazilian-style vegetarian dishes. The chickpea flour segment, labeled as ""farinha de grão-de-bico"", is smaller but growing due to the rise in gluten-free baking and functional food trends. It is primarily available through organic and specialty health stores, with retail prices ranging from BRL 25 to BRL 35 per kg. Brands like Jasmine, Vitao, and Mundo Verde offer chickpea flour for breading, baking, and protein-rich recipes. Most flour is made locally using imported whole chickpeas. Canned chickpeas, known as ""grão-de-bico cozido"", are growing rapidly in urban markets due to rising demand for convenience food among working-class consumers in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre. Leading canned brands include Quero, Hemmer, and Predilecta, with 400g tins priced between BRL 6 and BRL 10. These are popular for salads and direct consumption without soaking or boiling. Split chickpeas, or chana dal, have very limited presence and are not produced or processed in Brazil. They are found in Indian and Middle Eastern stores in São Paulo and Brasília, often imported from India or UAE in 1kg or 2kg packs for around BRL 18–25 per kg. The local chickpea processing sector is still underdeveloped, with no major split chickpea production lines due to low demand. Whole and canned chickpeas dominate the B2C market, while flour caters to the niche gluten-free and vegan bakery segment.

In Brazil, over 95% of chickpeas are consumed in the food and beverage sector, mainly in home kitchens, restaurants, and processed food production. Chickpeas are integrated into healthy meal kits, salad mixes, hummus, and vegan protein dishes across major urban centers like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. Traditional use remains low, but rising interest in plant-based diets has pushed chickpea-based food innovations. In 2024, brands like Fazenda Futuro and Mr. Veggy began using chickpea protein in vegan burgers and ready meals. Food processors import Kabuli chickpeas and use them in canned meals, snacks, and hummus spreads sold through retail chains like Carrefour, Pão de Açúcar, and Zona Sul. Gourmet restaurants and salad bars, particularly in São Paulo and Brasília, feature chickpeas in menu offerings targeting upper-middle-class consumers. In B2B use, chickpeas are processed into hummus and dips by local producers such as Cuida Bem and Veggie Box. Use in animal feed is negligible due to high import costs and limited availability of low-grade or split chickpeas. Other applications, such as industrial uses or cosmetics, are minimal and mostly restricted to niche research. A few startups explore chickpea-derived protein isolates for sports nutrition, but no commercial production has started as of 2024. Chickpeas are not used in starch extraction or bio-based materials in Brazil, unlike corn or cassava. Food remains the only significant sector of demand, with limited diversification.

In Brazil, the chickpeas market is driven by the B2C distribution channel, with over 70% of the product sold directly to consumers through supermarkets, online platforms, grocery chains, and organic stores. Major national retailers like Carrefour Brasil, Pão de Açúcar (GPA Group), Assaí Atacadista, and Mundo Verde sell whole chickpeas, canned variants, and chickpea flour under private labels or imported brands. Consumers purchase imported Kabuli chickpeas primarily in urban regions, especially São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília, where demand for plant-based, vegan, and healthy food ingredients is high. Pack sizes range from 250 grams to 1 kilogram for dry chickpeas and 300–500 grams for canned variants. E-commerce platforms like Mercado Livre, Amazon Brasil, and SuperPrix offer premium chickpea-based snacks and flours, often targeting health-conscious and gluten-free buyers. The B2B channel remains less dominant but steadily growing, with demand from food processors, restaurants, cloud kitchens, health food manufacturers, and meal kit services. Foodservice suppliers like GRSA Compass, Sodexo Brasil, and institutional caterers source chickpeas through wholesale importers, mainly for hummus, spreads, and salad components in cafeterias, corporate kitchens, and university canteens. Local distributors like Zona Cerealista and Companhia das Ervas operate as bulk suppliers to hotels and restaurants. However, B2B buyers face issues with fluctuating chickpea prices and inconsistent import cycles, which limit year-round usage. Canned chickpeas are more preferred among foodservice clients due to convenience. Brazil does not have structured chickpea distribution cooperatives or dedicated supply chains due to low domestic cultivation, which forces both B2B and B2C buyers to depend on intermediaries and importers. In B2C, organic and specialty food stores dominate the high-margin chickpea flour and snack categories, while mainstream dry chickpeas are sold via wholesalers and open markets (feiras livres). Direct farm-to-retail supply is absent due to no domestic farming scale. Show more