Compared with 2023, pulses in Germany registered faster growth in total volume sales in 2024, supported by the growing popularity of vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets in Germany. Beans, peas and “other” pulses showed similar market sizes and saw positive volume growth in the retail and foodservice channels. Overall, foodservice witnessed faster volume growth than retail at the end of the review period. The foodservice channel continued to recover from the slump caused by COVID-19 limitatio

Pulses is expected to maintain total volume growth in India in 2024, with particularly strong growth rates anticipated for beans and peas. Volume growth is set to be seen across all channels, driven by rising demand for plant-based proteins and their nutritional benefits, as more consumers seek healthier, protein-rich options. The high levels of fibre, vitamins, and minerals in pulses also make them increasingly popular amongst health-conscious consumers, fuelling production and consumption. Pul

Volume sales of pulses remained positive in Thailand in 2024, although rates of growth do appear to be declining somewhat (across retail, foodservice, and institutional sales). Challenges in the category are cited to come from inflationary pressures and high costs of living, impacting consumers’ purchasing power and leading to price sensitivity. Within this, consumers are shifting towards more affordable pulse varieties, such as mung beans, for example. Meanwhile, peas saw the strongest performa

In 2024, total volume sales of pulses in Morocco grew by 5%, matching results seen in the previous year. Pulses cultivation in Morocco was facing a significant crisis, with many farmers abandoning pulse crops in favour of more profitable alternatives. Several factors contributed to the decline in local production, including the rising cost and scarcity of labour, ongoing water shortages due to persistent drought, and intense competition from cheap imported pulses, particularly from countries lik

As prices continued to stabilise across industries in 2024, pulses in the US saw the continued slowdown in price growth benefit volume growth. Although unit price growth remained in the high single digits for 2023, 2024 showed an increase in the low single digits. Volume growth was seen for pulses across all channels, but particularly retail, led by beans. Until recently, evolving lifestyles and inconsistent daily routines made dry pulses unappealing to the broader consumer base due to the requi

Retail volume sales of pulses continued to be negatively impacted by inflation in 2023 and 2024. Producers of pulses have been impacted by increasing production costs including a rise in the cost of raw materials, packaging and transportation. Drought also affected production in 2023 and 2024 which placed further pressure on the supply chain leading to further price increases, although manufacturers expect to see better harvests in the coming years.

2024 saw average unit prices of pulses increase further in Vietnam, but category products remained relatively affordable for local consumers – especially in the case of common variants such as soybeans and mung beans. Demand was thus maintained, even against a worrying economic background. Pulses like mung beans and black beans are extremely popular in Vietnam and are key ingredients in several dishes that are regularly consumed. They appear in desserts, such as sweet soups with beans (popular i

Demand for pulses in South Africa continues to rise. There is an ongoing trend among some South Africans to reduce their meat consumption as they look to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets as part of flexitarian lifestyles. There are many reasons for including greater plant content in diets, ranging from perceived health benefits to environmental concerns. Whilst being high in protein, meat is considered to have potential negative health impacts if regularly consumed in high qua

The consumption of pulses in Italy saw steady growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2024. This growth was supported by several factors, including nutritional, ecological, economic and cultural. First, pulses are extremely rich in nutrients. They are an excellent source of vegetable protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, such as iron and magnesium. At a time when health and nutritional wellbeing are in the spotlight, many people are trying to reduce their meat consumption and increas

Total volume sales of pulses grew slightly in France in 2024. Sales of pulses in the French market are being boosted by the rise in flexitarianism, although it should be noted that the majority of this growth is seen in canned varieties rather than fresh pulses. Pulses saw value grow alongside volumes in 2023 as these products saw price increases linked to inflation and rising production costs, and this continued, albeit at a slower rate, in 2024. With pulses offering a higher protein content th

Total volume sales of pulses grew in Mexico in 2024. The impact of droughts in Mexico has caused a sustained increase in the import of beans, with 2023 registering the lowest production in 30 years and consequently one of the highest levels of imports in the review period. With 2024 experiencing the same issues, including the delay of the delivery of crop supplies, which also contributed to a double-digit decrease in production, the government continued to increase the volume of imports, mainly

Demand for pulses in the United Arab Emirates continues to rise, with these fresh food options a mainstay of diets among Middle Eastern and South Asian expatriate communities. The significant multiculturalism found in the United Arab Emirates supports a consistent need for a range of pulses, guaranteeing expansion in the local market.

Brazil has been experiencing the impacts of strong natural phenomena since 2022, alternating between La Ninã and El Niño, which manifest with opposite effects across the country. While the former brings heavy rains to the Southeast and drought to the South, the latter, which started in 2023, and created serious damage in 2024, inverts the situation. This caused Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, to see a major natural disaster, with heavy rain and historic flooding in the first

In 2024, total volume sales of pulses in Japan are anticipated to experience marginal growth, primarily due to the continued recovery of foodservice volume sales. Foodservice remains a significant channel for sales of pulses, particularly for azuki beans, which are commonly used in traditional Japanese sweets. The volume of foodservice sales of pulses faced a substantial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, but as the situation has normalised, some recovery has been observed. D

Demand for pulses in the UK continues to rise, mirroring a wider trend towards healthier eating and plant-based diets. This surge in popularity is driven by several factors, with heightened awareness of the health benefits associated with pulses at the forefront. Pulses, such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans, are celebrated for their high protein and fibre content, making them suitable choices for those seeking nutritious and balanced diets. In addition, their integral role in sustainable eating

In the current market landscape, fresh pulses in Australia such as beans and peas are struggling to maintain a positive performance due to consumer habits. Many Australians typically purchase shelf stable or frozen pulses, as these formats are not only more convenient for consumption, but also have a longer shelf life and can be bought in bulk to be stored away in the freezer or pantry. For example, retail volume sales of shelf stable beans are set to reach over 59,100 tonnes in 2024, compared t

In 2024, foodservice volume demand for pulses is set to rise significantly in China. With accelerated urbanisation and increasingly fast-paced lifestyles, local consumers are becoming more inclined to dine out, experiencing heightened freedom and mobility, and spending less time at home. This shift in lifestyle is expected to adversely affect retail sales of pulses, with more consumers beginning to rely on foodservice channels to meet their daily dietary needs.