Australia’s Chickpea Crop Hits Record 2.267 MMT in 2024-25 Season

Australia’s chickpea production for the 2024-25 season has soared to an unprecedented 2.267 million metric tonnes (MMT), according to the latest ABARES Australian Crop Report. This marks a significant rise of 380,000 tonnes from the December estimate of 1.887 MMT, fuelled by expanded cultivation and record-high national yields. Exceptional growing conditions, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland, have played a key role in this surge.

Queensland’s chickpea output is forecasted to reach 950,000 tonnes—an astonishing 239% increase compared to the previous year—making it the state’s second-largest crop on record. The state’s chickpea planting area expanded by 91% from 2023-24 to 420,000 hectares, driven by favourable seasonal conditions and strong market prices.

Meanwhile, New South Wales is on track for a record-breaking chickpea harvest of 1.28 MMT from 580,000 hectares—the largest ever recorded in the state.

Chickpeas were the only crop to see an upward revision in planting area, with an additional 50,000 hectares added since December. The total chickpea planting area for 2024-25 now stands at 1.039 million hectares, slightly below the record levels seen in 2016-17 and 2017-18.