Australia is a major player in the global lentil market, both as producer and an exporter. In 2022, the country exported 1,042 KMT of lentils, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. The top destinations for Australian lentils were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, UAE, Egypt, and Pakistan. Notably, Bangladesh was the leading importer, purchasing 391 KMT of lentils, while India was the next significant consumer, buying 275 KMT, followed by Sri Lanka at 104 KMT.

The trend continues in 2023, as the country has had a strong start in the lentil export market. In the first two months of the year (January-February), Australia exported a total of 346 KMT of lentils, a substantial 65% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. India remained the top consumer, importing 155 KMT, followed by Bangladesh with 51 KMT, and Turkey with 36 KMT of total Australian lentils exported during this period.

It is anticipated that the export of Australian lentils will reach close to 1 million tonnes in the year 2023.