The most prevalent product after dry beans and chickpea is dry pea. According to 2014 data, the America continent accounts for the largest share of global dry pea production with 4.4 million tons followed by Europe with 3.3 million tons, Asia with 2.3 million tons, and Africa with 662,000 tons. According to 2014 data, the Americas accounts for the largest share of global lentil production with 2.16 million tons. In the same year, America is followed by Asia with 2.13 million tons, Oceania with 240,000 tons and Africa with 180,000 tons and Europe with 104,000 tons. 

The nutritional value of pulses in terms of nutrition and body health is increasingly being emphasized recently by health and nutrition experts in many countries of the world. Additionally, agricultural experts are emphasizing the value of pulses in terms of soil health. Despite all this, the global production of pulses is not enough compared to demand. Now there is an intense global effort to increase pulses production.

WORLD DRY PEA & LENTIL PRODUCTION AND MAJOR PRODUCER COUNTRIES As it is known, the production data in relation to the grain products which can be reached easily by everyone is updated quickly. In addition to the data of the current season, estimates are also published for the next seasons. But this is not yet the case for the production of pulses. As of today, the most up-to-date data on global pulses production is published by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and they include data of 2014. According to FAO data; in general terms, the most produced pulses in the world are dry beans. The most prevalent product after dry beans and chickpea is dry pea. The global dry pea production in 2011 was 10.4 million tons, but in 2012 it increased to 10.6 million tons. The global dry pea production was 11.1-11.2 million tons in 2013 and 2014 respectively. According to 2014 data, the America continent accounts for the largest share of global dry pea production with 4.4 million tons followed by Europe with 3.3 million tons, Asia with 2.3 million tons, Africa with 662,000 tons and Oceania with 361 tons.

The global lentils production, which was 4.4 million tons in 2011 and 2012, rose to 5 million tons in 2013. In 2014, it decreased to 4.8 million tons. According to 2014 data, the Americas accounts for the largest share of the global lentil production with 2.16 million tons. In the same year, America is followed by Asia with 2.13 million tons, Oceania with 240,000 tons and Africa with 180,000 tons and Europe with 104,000 tons.

Countries are focused on one or two products in pulses production. When we look at the dry pea production in 2014 on a country-basis, Canada comes first in the global dry pea production. Canada, which produced 3.3 million tons of dry peas in 2012, increased its production to 3.9 million tons in 2013. In 2014, Canada’s dry pea production declined to 3.4 million tons. Russia, which comes second in the global dry pea production, produced 1.6 million tons of dry peas in 2012. Russia, which decreased dry pea production to 1.3 million tons in 2013, increased its production to 1.5 million tons in 2014. The USA, which ranks third after Russia in the global dry pea production, produced 499 thousand tons of dry peas in 2012. The USA dry pea production, which was 708 thousand tons in 2013, rose to 778 thousand tons in 2014. According to 2014 data, the USA is followed by France with 538 thousand tons and Australia with 342 thousand tons.

When we look at the lentil production on a country-basis, Canada also comes first in the global lentil production. Canada produced 1.5 million tons of lentils in 2012, raising its production to 2.1 million tons in 2013. In 2014, Canada’s dry pea production decreased to 1.9 million tons. India, second in global lentil production, produced 1 million tons of lentils in 2012. India produced 1.1 million lentils in 2013 and it produced the same amount of lentil in 2014. Turkey, which ranks third after India, produced 438 thousand lentils in 2012. In 2013, Turkey reduced its lentil production to 417 thousand tons and in 2014 to 345 thousand tons. According to 2014 data, in terms of global lentil production, Turkey is followed by Australia with 238 thousand tons, Nepal with 226 thousand tons, Bangladesh with 157 thousand tons, USA with 156 thousand tons, Ethiopia with 137 thousand tons, China with 125 thousand tons and Iran with 84 thousand tons.

WORLD DRY PEAS AND LENTIL TRADE Approximately 84 percent of the pulses produced worldwide meet the domestic demands of the countries. The remaining 16 percent is part of the global trade. According to FAO’s 2013 data on global dry pea trade, dry pea export is 4.6 million tons. Global lentil exports amounted to 2.6 million tons. With respect to the pulses, the most exported product in terms of quantity is dry peas. In 2013, 4.6 million tons of dry peas were exported globally. The value of this export amount was 2.1 billion dollars. The most exported product after dry peas is dry beans, followed by lentil with 2.6 million tons and chickpeas with 1.6 million tons.

In 2010, while 4.4 million tons of dry peas were exported, in 2011 this amount rose to 4.8 million tons. The amount of dry peas exported in 2013 was 4.6 million tons and the value of it was 2.1 billion dollars. Lentil is third in the ranking of global pulses exports. Global lentil exports, which were 1.9 million tons in 2010, were the same in 2011. In 2013, the value of lentil exports, which rose to 2.6 million tons, amounted to 1.7 billion dollars.

With regard to the global import of pulses, the import of dry peas increased from 3.8 million tons in 2010 to 4.3 million tons in 2011. The import of dry peas, which decreased to 4 million tons in 2012, was 4.3 million tons in 2014. The value of this is 2.2 billion dollars. Lentil imports amounted to 1.8 million tons in 2010 and 1.9 million tons in 2011. The import of lentils, which was 1.9 million tons in 2012, rose to 2.5 million tons in 2013. Its value was 1.8 billion dollars.

DRY PEA & LENTIL PRODUCTION IN TURKEY The pulses production in Turkey has decreased drastically in the last 12 years due to the fact that the cultivation area of the pulses has decreased significantly in the last 10 years. Total pulses production has also decreased by about 400 thousand tons in the last 10 years. The total pulses production, which was 1.4 million tons in 2006, declined to 1 million tons in 2015.

It is seen that the most produced pulses is chickpea, followed by the lentil. Turkey’s total lentil production, which was 417 thousand tons in 2013, decreased to 345 thousand tons in 2014. In 2015, the production of lentils was slightly increased to 360 thousand tons. It is estimated that in 2016 Turkey produced 365 thousand tons of red lentils. Turkey’s dry pea production is quite low. Turkey, which produced 3 tons of dry peas in 2013, produced 2 tons of dry peas in 2014 and 3 tons of dry peas in 2015 respectively. It is estimated that in 2016 Turkey’s dry pea production fell to 2 tons.

DRY PEA & LENTIL TRADE IN TURKEY Decrease in agricultural areas where pulses are cultivated and consequently decrease in production also cause increase in imports by Turkey. The total import of pulses, which was 272 thousand tons in 2012, increased to 335 thousand tons in 2013, 433 thousand tons in 2014 and 470 thousand tons in 2015.

The most imported pulses product is lentils. In 2013, 199 thousand tons of lentils were imported. This amount increased to 303 thousand tons in 2014, to 313 thousand tons in 2015 and to 337 thousand tons in 2016. According to TURKSTAT data, the most imported pulses after lentils in 2015 are dry peas. The import of dry peas, which was 43 thousand tons in 2013 and 33 thousand tons in 2014, increased significantly in 2015 and reached 82 thousand tons. But in 2016, 60 thousand tons of dry peas were imported. According to the report titled “Turkish Pulses Market Overview” published in 2016 by the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS), Turkey mainly imports lentils from Canada. Turkey exports the imported lentil to the Central Asian and African countries such as Iraq, Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Lentil had the highest share in exports as well as imports in 2015. The export of lentils, which was 178 thousand tons in 2013, rose to 183 thousand tons in 2014. Exports of lentils, which rose to 219 thousand tons in 2015, continued to rise to reach to 243 thousand tons in 2016.

The second most exported pulses in 2015 were dry peas. The export of dry peas, which was 31 thousand tons in 2013, increased in 2014 to 24 thousand tons. In 2015, the export of dry peas rose to 62 thousand tons but decreased in 2016 to 46 thousand tons.