Home » Environment

The Global Chickpea Shortage: Causes, Consequences, and the Uncertain Future of Hummus

How climate, conflict, and changing diets threaten the world's chickpea supply—and what it means for your favorite foods.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 27, 2025

How climate, conflict, and changing diets threaten the world's chickpea supply—and what it means for your favorite foods.

The Global Chickpea Shortage: A Crisis for Crops and Cultures

Once seen as a humble staple for millions worldwide and a rising star in plant-based diets, the chickpea is facing a serious supply crisis. Environmental shocks, geopolitical conflict, and surging demand have collided to create a global shortage with far-reaching impacts for farmers, consumers, and food systems. This article explores the roots of the current shortage, the wide-ranging consequences, and the uncertain outlook for the future of chickpeas—and your beloved hummus.

Why Are Chickpeas in Short Supply?

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Droughts and heatwaves have slashed yields in key producing regions, disrupting harvests from India to North America.
Geopolitical Conflict and Trade: War in Ukraine, trade barriers, and transport disruptions have limited exports and upended global supply chains.
Fierce Competition for Farmland: Farmers are favoring more profitable or essential crops such as wheat and corn, lowering chickpea acreage.
Soaring Demand: Health-conscious consumers and expanding middle classes in Asia are pushing demand to all-time highs.

Weather Extremes Disrupt Harvests

India, the world’s largest producer of chickpeas, has faced its fourth-driest winter growing season in two decades. Hotter-than-normal temperatures in February and March 2023 stressed crops, leading to disappointing yields when compared to expectations. This shortfall amounted to a loss of roughly 100,000 metric tons of kabuli chickpeas from India’s export chain. Mexico, another major supplier, suffered similar weather-related losses, compounding the scarcity.

Climate volatility across North America has worsened the situation. The U.S. and Canada experienced significant declines in chickpea output in 2022 due to prolonged droughts, and although Canadian production rebounded by almost 80% in 2024, overall global stocks remain tight.

Conflict in Ukraine Reverberates Worldwide

The outbreak of war in Ukraine has had ripple effects far beyond Eastern Europe. Disruptions to Black Sea shipping routes and declines in Ukrainian and Russian chickpea output suddenly removed a significant source of supply from world markets. At the same time, sanctions and tariffs have made it difficult for Russian chickpea supplies to reach key importers, particularly in the European Union, where tariffs of 50% and banking restrictions have sharply curtailed trade.

Farmers Shift to More Lucrative Crops

For many growers, soaring prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat have prompted a reallocation of cropland that would otherwise have gone to chickpeas. This competition has further distorted the supply of the legume at a time when demand is surging, particularly as populations in India and the Middle East rely on chickpeas as a dietary staple.

How Big Is the Chickpea Shortage?

Global chickpea supplies dropped by as much as 20% in 2022, with some markets experiencing price hikes of 50–75% over the last two years. India faces a projected 1.5 million metric ton supply-demand gap in 2025, with depleted buffer stocks and marginally increased production likely unable to keep up with booming domestic appetite.

Country	2024 Estimated Production (metric tons)	Status
India	500,000+	Below demand; facing deficit
Turkey	550,000	Stable; meets historical average
Canada	280,000	Rebounding after drought
France	25,000	Harvest delayed by rain; quality issues
Russia	700,000 (2023)	Trade limited by sanctions

The Demand Boom: Why Does Everyone Want Chickpeas?

Once considered a fringe ingredient in the West, the chickpea has achieved mainstream status as the foundation of hummus, a growing range of snacks, and as a nutritional powerhouse for plant-based diets. Demand is driven by several trends:

Health Awareness: Chickpeas are rich in plant protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Their low glycemic index helps manage blood sugar and cholesterol.
Dietary Shifts: Vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians are turning to chickpeas as a protein source as meat reduction strategies become more common.
Pop Culture and Food Trends: The popularity of Mediterranean cuisine, especially hummus, has soared in North America and Europe.

Globally, the chickpea market is forecast to grow at a 7% compound annual rate for the next decade, with the protein market alone potentially reaching $165.1 million by 2033.

Economic and Social Impacts of the Shortage

The shortages have a multitude of impacts, felt by stakeholders at all parts of the food system:

Rising Prices: Wholesale and retail prices of chickpeas and chickpea-based products like hummus have spiked, squeezing consumer budgets and food businesses.
Food Insecurity Risks: Societies that rely on chickpeas as an affordable protein source face challenges in food access and nutrition, notably in India, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Pressure on Substitutes: As shortages continue, pressure mounts on other legumes such as lentils, peas, and beans—potentially causing ripple effects across broader food supply chains.
Impact on Plant-Based Industry: The food industry’s shift towards sustainable and plant-based options is complicated by supply instability for key ingredients like chickpeas.

Can the Chickpea Crisis Be Eased?

Some indicators point to an eventual easing of the crisis. Higher prices are enticing more farmers globally to expand chickpea acreage, particularly in Canada, the U.S., and parts of Europe. Increased cultivation and favorable weather in chickpea-growing regions are expected to bring some relief by late 2025. However, with global demand still strong, a complete return to surplus will take time.

France: Recent rains delayed but did not destroy the harvest. However, quality concerns persist due to excessive moisture and soil-borne diseases.
North America: Canadian farmers increased chickpea production by nearly 80% for 2024, and U.S. acreage is also expanding, promising future supply stability.
Turkey: Maintaining production at its six-year average, it remains a vital supplier for Europe and the Middle East.
Australia: Sold out of current stocks, but a new harvest is expected by October, adding to global supplies.

Despite these efforts, experts caution that one good year is not enough; recovery depends on ongoing weather improvements, geopolitical stabilization, and long-term investments in sustainable farming.

How Are Countries and Companies Responding?

India is considering ramping up imports and deploying government stockpiles to bridge the shortfall, while also managing price controls to prevent food inflation.
Turkey and Canada are expanding acreage and closely monitoring southern hemisphere harvests to manage future risks.
Multinational food companies are reformulating products or diversifying supply sources to maintain stability in processed foods and ready-to-eat meals.
Consumers are bracing for higher costs on chickpea-based products and are increasingly considering substitute legumes in their diets.

Chickpeas and the Broader Food System

The chickpea crisis reflects broader vulnerabilities in today’s global food systems:

Climate Risks: Crop failures in one region can disrupt interconnected markets worldwide.
Supply Chain Fragility: Globalization means local conflicts can have international effects. Instability in one exporting nation can destabilize supply elsewhere.
Sustainability Concerns: As natural resources dwindle and demand increases, food security requires more robust and resilient agricultural systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are chickpea shortages expected to continue in 2025?

A: Shortages are expected to remain through at least late 2025, though increasing cultivation and improved weather could ease supply in some regions. A full return to surplus will likely take more time.

Q: Why has the price of hummus risen so sharply?

A: Price spikes are due to global shortages of chickpeas driven by poor harvests, war-driven export disruptions, and increased demand from health-conscious consumers and plant-based diets.

Q: Are there alternatives to chickpeas in hummus?

A: Yes, food makers and home cooks have started using lentils, white beans, or edamame as bases for dips. However, the distinctive taste and texture of traditional hummus are unique to chickpeas.

Q: Is climate change the main reason for the shortage?

A: Climate change is a significant factor, exacerbating drought and heatwaves that damage crops. However, conflict and shifting global trade are also major contributors.

Q: Will increased chickpea planting solve the problem?

A: Expanding cultivation helps, but supply recovery requires time and stable, favorable weather. It may take several seasons of strong harvests to fully meet global demand and build back reserves.

What’s Next for Chickpeas and Hummus?

The challenges facing chickpeas are a call to action for a more resilient and diversified global food system. For consumers, it may be time to savor hummus more mindfully—or explore creative alternatives—while supporting policies and products that champion sustainable agriculture.

The fate of this ancient superfood now depends on how countries, companies, farmers, and consumers respond to converging crises. As the world waits for the next harvest, the humble chickpea stands as a symbol of both the fragility and adaptability of the global food system.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete