Pulses Prices: Trend, Index, Demand, Chart and Forecast Q2 2026

Author : ChemAnalyst Data | Published On : 16 Sep 2026

According to ChemAnalyst, The global Pulses Prices recorded mixed regional movements during the quarter ending June 2026, with pricing trends shaped by production costs, demand conditions, industrial activity, and broader agricultural market dynamics. Pulses, including lentils, chickpeas, peas, beans, and other leguminous crops, remain important staples for food manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers worldwide. Changes in cultivation expenses, processing costs, transportation, and domestic demand can therefore have a direct impact on the overall Pulses Price Index.

During Q2 2026, North America and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region experienced upward movements in pulses prices, while the European market showed a contrasting decline. In the United States, the Pulses Price Index increased quarter-over-quarter as robust demand coincided with higher production expenses. In China, pulses prices also moved higher, supported by stronger demand and rising production costs. Germany, however, registered a quarter-over-quarter decline amid weaker manufacturing activity.

Cost inflation remained an important theme throughout the quarter. The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 5.5% year-over-year in June 2026, while China's PPI rose by 4.1% over the same period. In Germany, producer prices increased by 2.2% year-over-year in May 2026, indicating continued cost pressure despite softer industrial conditions.

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Pulses Prices in North America

In the United States, the Pulses Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026, reflecting a combination of resilient demand and increasing production costs. The market benefited from continued consumption of pulses across food processing, packaged foods, animal feed, and retail channels. Strong buying interest provided support to prices even as supply-side conditions remained relatively stable.

One of the major factors affecting the U.S. pulses market during the quarter was the increase in production-related expenses. Farmers and processors faced higher costs across several stages of the supply chain, including agricultural inputs, labor, equipment, energy, storage, packaging, and transportation. These increases raised the cost base for producers and processors, contributing to upward price pressure.

The broader producer-cost environment also supported the bullish movement in pulses prices. The U.S. Producer Price Index increased by 5.5% year-over-year in June 2026, highlighting substantial inflationary pressure across producer-level markets. For pulses suppliers, higher operating expenses can gradually be reflected in contract prices and spot-market offers, particularly when demand remains firm.

Demand fundamentals also played an important role. Pulses are widely used in processed food products because of their protein, fiber, and nutritional characteristics. Growing demand from food manufacturers and consumers can strengthen procurement requirements for lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, and related products. When buyers increase inventory coverage in response to anticipated consumption, suppliers may gain greater pricing power.

The U.S. market therefore entered the second half of 2026 with a combination of firm demand and elevated cost pressures. Future Pulses Prices will depend on crop conditions, acreage, yields, inventory levels, weather developments, input costs, and export demand.

Pulses Prices in APAC

The Asia-Pacific market also experienced an upward movement during Q2 2026. In China, the Pulses Price Index increased quarter-over-quarter, supported by rising production costs and robust industrial demand.

China's large food-processing sector provides an important demand base for agricultural commodities. Pulses are used across food manufacturing, packaged foods, ingredient applications, and consumer markets. Strong purchasing requirements from downstream industries can support prices when supply growth does not fully offset demand.

Production costs represented another important source of upward pressure. China's Producer Price Index rose 4.1% year-over-year in June 2026, indicating an increase in producer-level costs. Higher expenses associated with energy, logistics, agricultural inputs, processing, and other production activities can affect the final cost of pulses throughout the domestic supply chain.

The Chinese market is also influenced by import requirements and international agricultural trade. Depending on domestic harvest conditions and consumption levels, changes in import volumes can affect regional availability and pricing. Currency movements, freight costs, international crop prices, and trade conditions can further influence the landed cost of imported pulses.

During Q2 2026, robust demand combined with higher production costs to create a supportive pricing environment. Buyers seeking to secure supplies faced a market in which sellers were managing elevated operating expenses. This contributed to the quarter-over-quarter increase in the Chinese Pulses Price Index.

For the remainder of 2026, market participants are likely to monitor domestic crop output, inventory levels, import demand, agricultural policy, transportation expenses, and food-processing consumption. These variables will determine whether the upward pricing pressure observed in Q2 continues or moderates.

Pulses Prices in Europe

The European pulses market presented a different trend during Q2 2026. In Germany, the Pulses Price Index declined quarter-over-quarter, primarily influenced by contracting manufacturing activity in June 2026.

Germany is one of Europe's major industrial economies, and changes in industrial and manufacturing activity can influence commodity demand and broader purchasing sentiment. A contraction in manufacturing activity can lead downstream buyers to adopt more cautious procurement strategies, reduce inventory accumulation, or postpone purchasing decisions.

This softer demand environment contributed to downward pressure on German pulses prices during the quarter. Compared with North America and China, where stronger demand helped offset higher production costs, weaker industrial conditions in Germany limited the ability of suppliers to pass all cost increases through to buyers.

Nevertheless, production costs remained elevated. German producer prices increased by 2.2% year-over-year in May 2026, demonstrating that suppliers continued to face cost inflation. Expenses related to processing, energy, transportation, labor, packaging, and other operating requirements remained relevant to the market.

The combination of higher producer costs and weaker demand created a more complicated pricing environment. Suppliers had to balance increased operating expenses against buyers' reduced willingness to accept higher prices. This dynamic contributed to the quarter-over-quarter decline in the German Pulses Price Index.

The European market will remain sensitive to industrial activity, food-sector demand, crop availability, imports, logistics expenses, and broader inflationary trends during the second half of 2026.

Key Factors Influencing Pulses Prices in Q2 2026

Production Costs

Production expenses remained one of the most important drivers of the Pulses Prices market. Higher costs for energy, labor, agricultural inputs, machinery, transportation, processing, and packaging can increase the overall cost of bringing pulses to market.

The producer-price data across the major regions demonstrates the importance of this factor. The U.S. PPI increased 5.5% year-over-year in June, China's PPI increased 4.1%, and Germany's producer prices rose 2.2% year-over-year in May.

Demand from Food Processing

Food-processing industries represent a significant source of demand for pulses. Lentils, chickpeas, peas, and beans are used in ready-to-eat foods, canned products, snacks, soups, plant-based products, and other processed-food applications.

When food manufacturers increase production, demand for pulse-based ingredients can rise accordingly, supporting prices.

Industrial and Manufacturing Activity

Industrial conditions can influence purchasing behavior and commodity pricing. The stronger demand environment in the United States and China provided support to Q2 prices, while contracting manufacturing activity in Germany contributed to weaker market conditions.

Agricultural Supply Conditions

Crop acreage, planting conditions, weather, yields, disease risks, and harvest expectations remain critical determinants of pulses supply. Favorable growing conditions can increase availability and limit price increases, while adverse weather can reduce yields and tighten supplies.

Logistics and Transportation

Transportation costs influence both domestic and international pulses prices. Freight rates, fuel costs, port conditions, warehousing expenses, and regional distribution costs can affect the final price paid by buyers.

Regional Pulses Price Comparison

Region	Q2 2026 Price Trend	Major Market Driver	Cost Indicator
North America	Increased QoQ	Robust demand and rising production costs	U.S. PPI +5.5% YoY in June 2026
APAC	Increased QoQ	Robust demand and higher production costs	China PPI +4.1% YoY in June 2026
Europe	Declined QoQ	Contracting manufacturing activity	Germany producer prices +2.2% YoY in May 2026

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Pulses Price Outlook

The outlook for Pulses Prices during the remainder of 2026 will depend on the interaction between supply availability, demand growth, agricultural costs, and economic activity. North America and APAC may continue to experience cost-related price support if producer expenses remain elevated and demand stays firm.

In the United States, the combination of strong demand and elevated producer costs could continue influencing supplier pricing. However, improved crop availability or weaker purchasing activity could moderate upward pressure.

In China, domestic consumption, industrial demand, import requirements, and production costs will remain key market indicators. Changes in international commodity prices and logistics costs may also influence the domestic market.

Europe could experience more moderate pricing conditions if manufacturing activity remains subdued. However, elevated producer costs may provide a floor to prices, limiting the extent of any decline unless demand weakens significantly.

Weather will remain an important variable across all major producing regions. Changes in precipitation, temperature, planting conditions, and harvest expectations can quickly alter supply forecasts and consequently affect market sentiment.

Conclusion

The Pulses Prices market in Q2 2026 demonstrated significant regional variation. North America and APAC recorded quarter-over-quarter increases, supported by robust demand and higher production costs. In the United States, a 5.5% year-over-year increase in the June 2026 PPI reinforced the cost-driven pricing environment. China similarly experienced upward pressure, with its PPI increasing 4.1% year-over-year in June.

Europe followed a different trajectory, with Germany recording a quarter-over-quarter decline in the Pulses Price Index amid contracting manufacturing activity. At the same time, German producer prices remained elevated, increasing 2.2% year-over-year in May 2026.

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