South Africa Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030

South Africa does not produce chickpeas on a large scale and depends heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. The country has no significant commercial cultivation of chickpeas due to unsuitable climatic conditions in most areas and a lack of processing infrastructure. According to ITC Trade Map, South Africa imported over 14,000 metric tons of chickpeas in 2023, with a sharp rise compared to around 9,500 metric tons in 2020. Key import partners include India, Mexico, Australia, and Canada. India remains the primary supplier, shipping both Kabuli and Desi varieties. These chickpeas enter South Africa mainly through the ports of Durban and Cape Town, and then move into domestic distribution via wholesalers, agro-importers, and food processors. Chickpeas are not considered a staple in South African traditional cuisine, but urban middle-income groups are increasingly adopting them due to rising awareness of plant-based proteins. The health food movement and vegetarian diets are pushing demand, particularly for processed formats like canned chickpeas and chickpea flour. Chickpeas are used in salads, ready-to-eat snacks, hummus, and Indian and Mediterranean restaurants. Retail brands like KOO and Woolworths have included canned chickpeas and chickpea-based products in their health food aisles. The 2023 retail shelf price for canned chickpeas ranged from ZAR 16 to ZAR 24 per 400g pack, depending on the brand and format. South Africa also exports a limited quantity of value-added chickpeas, such as pre-packaged ready-to-cook products, to neighboring markets like Namibia and Botswana. However, the country’s role remains largely that of a consumer market for imported chickpeas. Regulatory standards for imports are governed by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), which monitors plant health and labeling compliance. Local food fairs like Africa’s Big 7 and Food & Hospitality Africa have hosted chickpea processors and importers, focusing on expanding legume-based product offerings.

According to the research report ""South Africa Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the South Africa Chickpeas market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.66% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. South Africa does not have large-scale commercial chickpea farming, but a few agricultural trials and smallholder initiatives have explored its cultivation, particularly in parts of the Free State and Limpopo. These projects aim to identify drought-tolerant legumes that can enrich crop rotation cycles. However, local chickpea acreage remains negligible. Most chickpeas consumed in the country are imported, and the domestic supply chain is built around imports arriving through major ports. Bulk chickpeas are typically stored in dry warehouses near Durban and Johannesburg before they move to regional wholesalers or are processed by food manufacturers. Supply chains often include bulk repackaging units and contract canning partners that convert imported chickpeas into retail-ready goods. Prices of imported chickpeas vary depending on international crop availability and exchange rate fluctuations. In 2023, the CIF price for imported chickpeas into South Africa ranged between USD 710 and USD 870 per metric ton, influenced by short-term supply tightness in India and Mexico. Freight charges from India and Canada added further volatility due to container shortages and shipping delays through the Cape route. Distributors often hedge costs by stocking inventory ahead of festive seasons like Ramadan and Diwali, when chickpea demand spikes. Domestic manufacturers, such as Tiger Brands and Nature’s Choice, operate through forward purchase contracts with global traders to maintain price stability. The product continues to flow through traditional importer-to-retailer pipelines, where logistics costs, storage losses, and perishability risks determine end-product pricing and availability. Local market prices for dried chickpeas reached up to ZAR 42/kg in 2023.

Kabuli chickpeas dominate South Africa’s chickpea imports due to their larger size, lighter skin, and better visual appeal, especially among urban consumers and processed food manufacturers. Most of the Kabuli imports come from Mexico, India, and occasionally Canada, depending on seasonal availability and pricing. Mexican Kabuli varieties with 8–10 mm calibers are preferred for premium retail packs and canned products. In 2023, over 85% of the chickpeas imported into South Africa were of the Kabuli type. These chickpeas are widely used in hummus, salads, and canned ready-to-eat meals distributed across major retail chains like Checkers, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths. Canning firms and food processors prefer Kabuli chickpeas for their fast cooking time, soft texture after hydration, and consistent size. On the other hand, Desi chickpeas form a smaller share of imports and are mainly consumed by the Indian diaspora or sold in ethnic stores in cities like Durban and Johannesburg. Desi varieties are typically imported from India and Tanzania, with seasonal arrivals depending on India’s domestic availability. These chickpeas are darker and smaller, requiring longer cooking times and typically ground into flour (besan) or used in traditional Indian dishes like chana masala. Traders source Desi chickpeas in 25–50 kg bags and distribute them to small retailers, wholesalers, and Indian restaurants. The South African market lacks localized classification standards for chickpeas, so grading is usually based on international import documentation, which indicates origin, variety, and moisture content. Importers sometimes blend different grades to match price points for local consumers. No local breeding programs or crop improvement efforts for Kabuli or Desi types are active in South Africa, and seed certification or varietal research is absent due to low production interest.

Whole chickpeas form the most common chickpea product sold and consumed in South Africa, primarily due to import dependency and limited domestic processing. Imported whole Kabuli chickpeas arrive mostly in bulk shipments or 25–50 kg sacks and are repacked into smaller 500 g or 1 kg consumer packs for retail sale through outlets like Shoprite, Food Lover’s Market, and Spar. These whole chickpeas are preferred for direct boiling, soaking, or use in cooked dishes such as stews and curries. In 2023, more than 80% of the chickpea volumes available in the South African retail market were in whole form. Besan or chickpea flour is available in ethnic grocery stores and certain baking ingredient shops, especially in Indian-populated regions of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Chickpea flour is imported mainly from India and the UAE and is used for dishes like bhajias, rotis, or as a gluten-free baking substitute. Domestic milling of chickpeas into flour is rare due to lack of local raw material and low processing infrastructure. Canned chickpeas, mostly made from Mexican or Turkish Kabuli types, are available in brands like Koo, Rhodes, and international labels such as Libby’s or Bonduelle. Canned products cater to the convenience segment in supermarkets and are growing in usage in salad bars, quick-service restaurants, and home kitchens. Split chickpeas or chana dal are present in small quantities, targeting Indian households and are largely sold in Indian and Bangladeshi food marts. These splits are imported directly or produced from imported Desi chickpeas by Indian traders in South Africa who run local cleaning and splitting operations in Durban and Johannesburg. Chickpea-based snacks, ready mixes, or roasted forms are not common at national scale but may appear in boutique or ethnic stores.

In South Africa, chickpeas find application mainly in the food and beverage sector, driven by dietary preferences in both mainstream and ethnic segments. Home consumption leads usage, especially in vegetarian and health-conscious households, where chickpeas are used in soups, stews, curries, and salads. Indian-origin communities in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town consume chickpeas regularly in traditional dishes like chana masala, biryani, or chickpea curry, contributing to steady urban demand. In recent years, health-conscious consumers have increased their intake of chickpeas as a plant-based protein and fiber source, especially among vegan and gluten-free diets. Food manufacturers and restaurants also contribute to consumption. Hummus, chickpea salads, and wraps have gained traction in cafes and healthy food chains like Kauai and Woolworths Food. However, large-scale industrial usage of chickpeas in food manufacturing remains limited due to cost of imports and lack of local processing. There are few commercial snack producers using chickpea flour or roasted chickpeas in packaged snack lines. Chickpea flour or besan is primarily used in ethnic food production, including for fritters, flatbreads, and batters in Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants. The animal feed segment shows negligible application of chickpeas due to high price compared to other protein sources such as soybean meal or maize-based feed. In research and small-scale farming communities, some pilot projects explore the use of damaged or split chickpeas in poultry feed, but this remains uncommercialized. Functional food producers and health supplement brands have begun exploring chickpea derivatives, like protein isolates, but are limited by lack of local extraction infrastructure. The others segment includes minimal usage in personal care products or pet food, which is rare and largely experimental.

In South Africa, the chickpeas market distribution primarily occurs through both B2B and B2C channels, with bulk imports and wholesale supplies forming the base of the B2B structure. Major importers, such as Afgri, TWK Agri, and Grain Field Chickpeas (GFC), supply chickpeas in bulk to wholesalers, food processors, ethnic grocery chains, and foodservice companies. These businesses further distribute to Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants, food manufacturers, bakeries, and health food producers, especially in urban hubs like Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. B2B trade is heavily price-sensitive due to import dependence, and most commercial buyers procure chickpeas via tender or annual contracts. Processing facilities involved in producing hummus, chickpea flour, or ready-to-cook mixes often depend on reliable B2B partnerships with port-based importers and regional grain traders. Government institutions such as hospitals and public schools occasionally procure chickpeas under food aid or nutritional programs through state-level B2B supply networks. In the B2C segment, chickpeas reach end users through national supermarket chains like Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Woolworths. These stores offer canned chickpeas, dry whole chickpeas, and besan in both branded and private label formats. International brands like Koo and local private labels dominate shelf space in canned products, while dry chickpeas are typically imported and repacked under regional labels. Online retail platforms such as Takealot and Faithful to Nature also stock organic or specialty variants targeting health-conscious buyers. Ethnic grocery stores in areas with large Indian or Arab populations offer bulk quantities of Desi or Kabuli types and attract a loyal consumer base. Informal trade through street vendors and weekly farmer markets also plays a role, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. Show more