South Korea Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030

South Korea does not cultivate chickpeas commercially due to its limited arable land, short growing season, and humid climate unsuitable for legume crops. The country is entirely import-dependent for chickpeas, with volumes sourced primarily from Australia, India, Turkey, and the United States. Imports are driven by South Korea’s rising demand for plant-based protein, gluten-free foods, and health-promoting ingredients among younger and urban populations. The country has seen a steady increase in the popularity of legumes like chickpeas due to health awareness campaigns, interest in K-wellness diets, and the growing vegan and flexitarian consumer base. According to data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, plant-based food consumption has increased sharply post-pandemic, creating market opportunities for alternative proteins like chickpeas. Chickpeas have entered mainstream food retail chains and online platforms, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) oversees import regulations, requiring compliance with local certifications such as HACCP Korea, Organic Korea, and KFDA standards for health and hygiene. Imports also adhere to ISO and Codex-based labelling and food safety laws. Chickpeas are primarily marketed through premium grocery shelves, organic and vegan sections, and digital health food stores. The local market is heavily influenced by Western and Middle Eastern dietary trends, especially among millennial and Gen Z consumers seeking protein-rich, low-fat, and convenient food options. With increasing demand for superfoods and clean-label ingredients, chickpeas are being positioned in diverse ready-to-eat formats and promoted in foodservice sectors, cafes, and meal kit subscriptions.

According to the research report ""South Korea Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the South Korea Chickpeas market was valued at more than USD 60 Million in 2025. South Korea's chickpea market operates solely through imports, with no domestic cultivation recorded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). The country’s chickpea demand is met through trade partnerships, with import volumes fluctuating between 4,000 and 7,000 metric tons annually over the last five years. According to Korea Customs Service trade data, Australia and India collectively account for over 60% of chickpea imports into South Korea, followed by the United States and Turkey. Most imports land at the Port of Busan, which handles the country’s major food cargo, and are then distributed through cold chain logistics to regional wholesalers and large retail distributors. Imported chickpeas are subject to Korea’s tariff structure under the Korea-Australia FTA and other trade agreements, where tariffs range between 0–5% depending on origin and product form. Pricing varies by grade and packaging, with wholesale prices averaging KRW 2,800–3,400 per kilogram for whole chickpeas and up to KRW 5,200 per kilogram for organic and ready-to-cook packaged varieties. The distribution network includes large retail players like Emart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus, alongside e-commerce platforms such as Coupang and Gmarket, which offer bundled, premium, and bulk chickpea SKUs. Major importers include health food companies, foodservice suppliers, and gourmet food distributors. Supply chain consistency is supported by international certifications, including USDA Organic and EU Organic, which help products enter South Korea’s growing health-focused retail space. The food processing sector has also begun sourcing chickpeas to produce value-added products like hummus, roasted snacks, and chickpea flour-based bakery goods. Seasonal demand peaks during Lent and major wellness campaigns, especially when brands highlight protein content and digestive health.

South Korea’s chickpea consumption is dominated by Kabuli chickpeas, which hold more than 95% of the market share across all imported volumes. Desi chickpeas are nearly absent in retail or processing channels due to low consumer familiarity and limited culinary application. Kabuli chickpeas are preferred for their larger size, lighter color, and smooth texture, which match local consumer preferences for visual appeal and soft mouthfeel. Most of the Kabuli chickpeas imported into South Korea fall in the 7 mm to 9 mm size range, with premium 9 mm+ sizes primarily sourced from Australia and the U.S. used in gourmet retail and HORECA (hotel, restaurant, catering) channels. Australian Kabuli chickpeas are considered high quality and command slightly higher prices, while Indian Kabuli chickpeas are more common in ethnic grocery stores and bulk supply chains. Turkish and Mexican Kabuli varieties also appear in small volumes, typically blended into retail SKUs labeled as Mediterranean or Global Origin. Desi chickpeas, by contrast, are not widely available in mainstream South Korean retail or food service and are primarily brought in by small ethnic importers for the Indian and Nepalese communities in Seoul and Incheon. These are usually sold whole or in split form through specialty import grocers in areas like Itaewon and Guro. In the absence of local cultivation, product type differentiation is purely dependent on importer sourcing and end-use intent retail, food service, or industrial processing. Chickpea-based snacks and dips in supermarkets like Lotte Mart and GS Supermarket are made exclusively from Kabuli types, usually imported pre-processed or semi-processed. Local labeling practices refer to Kabuli as chickpeas or ceci, while Desi variants are rarely marketed under specific names.

Whole dried chickpeas dominate the South Korean chickpeas market, accounting for more than 60% of the total chickpea form imports. These are largely Kabuli type, sold through specialty grocery stores, health food shops, and increasingly via online channels like Coupang and Market Kurly. Whole chickpeas are commonly bought by vegan consumers, home bakers, and small-scale restaurants focused on plant-based menus. Most of these are imported from Australia, the U.S., India, and Turkey. Canned chickpeas hold around 25–30% of the market and are growing steadily, led by food retailers such as Homeplus, E-Mart, and Costco Korea. Major canned product brands available include S&W (Del Monte), Goya, and local private labels, typically sourced from the U.S., Spain, and Italy. These are marketed for ready-to-use in salads, stews, and hummus. Canned chickpeas are preferred in metropolitan areas where convenience and western-style food habits are more prevalent. Chickpea flour (often called gram flour or besan) is a niche product, mostly used by South Asian households and some Korean health-conscious bakers. It is available mainly through ethnic grocery shops in areas with higher Indian or Pakistani populations, and through online platforms such as Gmarket. There is no significant industrial-scale use of chickpea flour in Korean food manufacturing. Split chickpeas (chana dal) form a very small portion of the market and are nearly invisible outside of ethnic grocery distribution. These are almost entirely imported from India and sometimes repackaged by local wholesalers. The form-specific demand is shaped heavily by consumer awareness and culinary adaptation. While canned and whole chickpeas are gaining popularity among Korean consumers for international and fusion cooking, flour and split forms remain restricted to immigrant community usage.

The South Korean chickpeas market is primarily food-driven, with over 95% of the imported chickpeas consumed for human consumption. The demand is led by health-conscious consumers, vegetarians, and younger demographics experimenting with global cuisines. Chickpeas are mainly used in homemade dishes like hummus, soups, salads, and stews. The growing interest in plant-based protein has helped chickpeas gain space in cafes and meal kit services. Leading retailers such as E-Mart, Lotte Mart, and online platforms like Market Kurly offer chickpeas under various formats including canned, dried, and pre-cooked. Ready-to-eat and HMR (Home Meal Replacement) segments have begun including chickpeas in wraps, salads, and grain bowls, especially in urban Seoul and Busan. Foodservice applications include Middle Eastern restaurants, vegan cafes, and international fusion chains where chickpeas are used in falafel, curries, and mezze platters. While there is no widespread use of chickpeas in traditional Korean cuisine, K-food brands are slowly experimenting with chickpea-based snacks and bakery products. In the others category, a small segment of chickpeas is purchased by cosmetic and nutraceutical firms, especially chickpea flour and extracts, used in herbal face masks and skin-care powders. This application remains limited and mostly confined to small-scale K-beauty firms or domestic DIY brands sold on platforms like Naver Shopping. No institutional or industrial-scale processing of chickpeas currently takes place in South Korea, limiting its penetration into sauces, extruded snacks, or beverages. However, food remains the core application, and most chickpea usage links directly to household or restaurant-level culinary use across urban centers.

In the B2B side, chickpeas enter the country through large importers such as CJ Freshway, Samsung Welstory, and Daesang Corporation, which source bulk dried or canned chickpeas mainly from India, Canada, Australia, and the United States. These companies distribute chickpeas to institutional kitchens, food manufacturers, vegan cafés, Middle Eastern restaurants, and HMR production facilities. Importers prefer 25 kg or 50 kg bulk sacks for dried chickpeas and 2.5 kg tins for canned variants. Several hotel and restaurant chains, including Kyochon, Ashley, and SaladStop Korea, have begun using chickpeas in gourmet salads, protein bowls, and grain-based side dishes. B2B orders usually move through logistics providers like Hanjin and Lotte Global Logistics with centralized warehousing near Incheon and Busan ports. On the B2C side, chickpeas reach consumers through modern retail and e-commerce. Major supermarket chains including Homeplus, E-Mart Traders, and Lotte Mart offer both private-label and imported chickpeas on shelves. Online retailers such as Coupang, SSG.com, Market Kurly, and Gmarket drive a large volume of B2C sales. These platforms list products like Organic Chickpeas, Canadian Kabuli Beans, and Hummus Kits, offering 250 g to 1 kg packs under brands such as Bob’s Red Mill, Orga, and Whole Nature. Most consumer-facing packaging includes Korean labeling for protein content and cooking instructions. While open markets or traditional groceries rarely carry chickpeas, health stores and organic marts like LOHAS Market or Olive Young sometimes retail chickpea flour and roasted snacks. B2C demand spikes during wellness campaigns and K-diet promotions targeting high-fiber and plant-protein food groups. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales from niche health brands and Instagram-based organic sellers have emerged, offering pre-soaked and sprouted chickpeas. Show more