Hummus has long outgrown its roots as a Middle Eastern staple to become a familiar treat around the world. Now, the Russian invasion of Ukraine may have a shortage of this creamy chickpea-based dish.
According to an estimate by the World Pulse Confederation.
Fighting in Ukraine along with economic sanctions imposed on Russia are the biggest disruptors to the flow of chickpeas, according to the industry group, which represents growers and traders of pulses, dried seeds of pulses including peas, beans and lentils. Rising freight prices, partly due to rising oil prices, are another issue.
“Globally, chickpea prices could increase by 15-20% – the same value as the fall in supply,” said Navneet Singh Chhabra, analyst at the trade association and director of Shree Sheela International. , a global chickpea trader.
Russia is one of the world’s largest suppliers of chickpeas, producing around 250,000 tonnes of chickpeas per year. But economic sanctions limit the means by which its growers can get chickpeas out of the country, Mr. Chhabra said.
The problem is different in Ukraine: much of its crop is usually planted in Kharkiv province, where fighting has hampered planting. Ukraine usually produces between 30,000 and 50,000 tons of chickpeas a year, but will produce a maximum of 5,000 tons this year, Chhabra estimated.
Russia is a major supplier of a smaller variety, called Kabuli chickpeas, which is particularly preferred for hummus, Chhabra said.
Russia’s biggest export markets are Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and India, and demand from these markets will cause repercussions around the world, he said.
“The South Asian market will buy the cheapest chickpea, but in the Middle East and the United States there is a strong preference for the smaller, smoother Kabuli chickpea because that’s what makes the best hummus with no creases,” said Mr. Chhabra. “And Russia exports the best and largest quantity of Kabuli chickpeas in the world.”