China's Pulse Trade Deficit Grows

PANAMA - Apr 13/16 - SNS -- Pulse exports from China have trended lower since 2011, with the result that country has its trade deficit in pulses grow steadily.

Net imports during the 2015 calendar year exceeded 465,000 metric tons (MT) as imports of all types of pulses pushed past 963,000 MT and exports dropped under 500,000 for the first time since the 1990s, according to data published in the platinum version of STAT.

China mostly exports dry edible beans, with kidney beans accounting for 63% of all pulse exports during the past year, compared to a 22% share for mung beans and 9% for small red beans, which includes adzuki type. During the previous five years, kidney bean shipments accounted for 66% of all pulse exports, compared to a 17% market share for mung beans and 7% for small red.

Field peas dominate China's pulse imports. Peas accounted for 94% of all pulse imports in 2015, while mung beans filled 4% of market demand, and kidney type beans 1%. During the previous five years, field pea imports accounted for 96% of all pulse purchases, compared to a 3% market share for mung beans and 1% for kidney beans.

Canada continued to dominate field pea imports in 2015, garnering a 92% share of the pea market, with those peas accounting for 89% of all pulse imports. The United States was the next most important supplier, with a 7% share of the pea market.

While the U.S. market share was down from 2014, there appears to be a modest shift in favor of the United States. During the previous five years, the U.S. market share averaged 6% and Canada's 93%.