Australia: Sluggish harvest, quality concerns limit trade

A slow start to the southern harvest and variable quality to date is keeping traded volume to a minimum, while in the north, attention is turning towards planting of new-crop mungbeans. Overall quality of lentils appears to be improving as harvest gathers pace, while the reverse could well be the case in faba beans. Trade sources say economic uncertainty is impacting a number of counterparties spread from Egypt to Bangladesh as inflationary pressure and currency risk limit appetite for business on both sides. New-crop trade in chickpeas is unusually thin for this time of year, with widespread downgrading of peas prevalent in most areas. All prices quotes in Australian dollars. Container packers on the Darling Downs of southern Queensland are paying around $450 per tonne for CHKPM-grade chickpeas with minor downgrading. Wilson International Trade broker Peter Wilson said some good-quality new-crop desi chickpeas are being seen among the mostly weather-affected loads being offered ...