While some fresh food products struggled during 2025 due to the impact of inflation and price rises, this situation offered some benefit to pulses which offer an affordable source of protein. With meat and fish prices soaring, some consumers switched to pulses such as lentils and broad beans which are not only much cheaper but are also packed with healthy nutrients. There has also been an increase in the availability of locally produced and imported lentils which has helped to keep prices stable

Total volume sales of pulses in Germany continued to grow in 2025, supported by rising interest in plant-based proteins among vegetarians, flexitarians and health-focused consumers. Culinary diversification also strengthened demand, as Middle Eastern and South Asian dishes became more established in both foodservice and home cooking, lifting usage of lentils, chickpeas and beans. Peas recorded the fastest growth within pulses, benefiting from versatility in everyday meals and consistent year-rou

Volume sales of pulses in Spain increased in 2025 despite drought, although producer profitability remained under pressure in southern regions where yields often failed to cover costs. Consumer demand continued shifting towards cooked legumes for convenience, while beans led growth thanks to strong culinary relevance and rising interest in plant-based protein as meat intake moderates. Sustainability considerations became more visible in dry pulses, with packaging choices increasingly influencing

Pulses in Italy posted further volume growth in 2025, supported by their position as a low-cost, protein-rich staple despite ongoing price pressure. Lentils drove the strongest gains within other pulses, benefiting from shorter cooking times and easy use across everyday and international recipes. Menu visibility increased as foodservice incorporated pulses into more plant-forward dishes, reinforcing at-home experimentation and repeat usage. Shelf-stable formats remained the main competitive cons

Volume sales for pulses rose in France in 2025, supported by stronger demand for plant-based proteins as flexitarian eating broadened. Growth was led by other pulses, with lentils benefiting from quick preparation and trusted local cues such as Lentilles Vertes du Puy PGI, while beans remained widely consumed via convenient canned formats. Hypermarkets and specialist retailers anchored sales, with organic chains and private label ranges supporting affordability and trust. Supply-side pressure fr

Demand for pulses has been hit by price increases, with budget-conscious consumers switching to alternative options with more stable prices. Nonetheless, the health and wellness trend and the ongoing shift towards plant-based proteins continues to support demand for pulses. Moreover, there is increasing interest in the quality and provenance of products, with consumers placing a growing emphasis on clean labels and supply chain transparency.

Pulses volume sales declined in Mexico in 2025 as time constraints and packaged competition continued to divert demand from unpackaged formats, despite ongoing government intervention. Peas was the strongest performer, supported by use in processed and plant-based formulations and higher visibility in public nutrition programmes, while beans remained central to diets but lost ground to canned and ready-meal alternatives that remove preparation time. Price sensitivity still shaped purchasing as f

Volume sales for pulses in Poland recorded moderate growth in 2025, supported by their role in traditional cooking and wider experimentation with international recipes. Beans was the most dynamic subcategory, benefiting from strong health credentials, broad availability and affordability, including among vegan consumers. Price sensitivity continued to favour private label, supported by discounters’ strong presence and frequent promotions. Processed alternatives constrained stronger growth, but r

Total volume sales of pulses in the US rose moderately over 2025. Pulses saw volume sales rise across all channels in 2025, with retail posting the strongest growth and foodservice and institutional seeing slight increases. Retail outperformed foodservice and institutional channels because home cooks rediscovered dried pulses as budget-friendly staples. Long shelf life meant no pressure to use these products quickly, appealing to households planning meals in advance or buying in bulk. Growth als

Pulses have grown in prominence as a healthy, affordable and sustainable ingredient for use in a wide and varied range of dishes. With many households facing financial pressures there has been a growing focus on ingredients that are both healthy and affordable, with beans being one of the big winners. Nonetheless, the market does still face competition from processed pulses which present a more convenient option. Over the forecast period, the focus will be on raising awareness of the benefits of

Foodservice sales continue to account for most sales of pulses in Japan, with retail demand continuing to fall due to demographic factors such as a shrinking population and smaller households requiring more convenient alternatives. While retail demand continued to fall in 2025 foodservice sales continued their recovery backed by an increase in inbound tourism and the introduction of innovative pulse-based dishes. Reduced local production could place a greater reliance on imported pulses over the

Pulses are gaining popularity for their high nutritional quality and importance in flexitarian diets. As a key source of plant-based protein, pulses are being embraced as part of healthier lifestyles, with the economical price point only adding to the appeal.

Pulses continued to see strong and steady growth in total volume terms in 2025 with these products being an important staple of the local diet, as well as offering a range of health benefits. Efforts to improve the supply chain and the expansion of private label offerings has also helped to maintain price stability. Moving forward, the focus will likely remain on ensuring stable supplies as well as focusing on convenience in response to the increasingly busy lives of locals.

The pulses category reported a significant lift in volume sales over 2025, underpinned by strong alignment with evolving consumer needs around value, health and convenience. Pulses have benefitted from the adoption of healthier diets, notably the inclusion of more plants. As a budget-friendly staple food, they were also deemed a more affordable solution to make meals goes further. Retailers have capitalised on the nutritional benefits by emphasising functional ingredients on pack.

Pulses is expected to maintain total volume growth in India in 2024, with particularly strong growth rates anticipated for beans and peas. Volume growth is set to be seen across all channels, driven by rising demand for plant-based proteins and their nutritional benefits, as more consumers seek healthier, protein-rich options. The high levels of fibre, vitamins, and minerals in pulses also make them increasingly popular amongst health-conscious consumers, fuelling production and consumption. Pul

2024 saw average unit prices of pulses increase further in Vietnam, but category products remained relatively affordable for local consumers – especially in the case of common variants such as soybeans and mung beans. Demand was thus maintained, even against a worrying economic background. Pulses like mung beans and black beans are extremely popular in Vietnam and are key ingredients in several dishes that are regularly consumed. They appear in desserts, such as sweet soups with beans (popular i

Demand for pulses in South Africa continues to rise. There is an ongoing trend among some South Africans to reduce their meat consumption as they look to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets as part of flexitarian lifestyles. There are many reasons for including greater plant content in diets, ranging from perceived health benefits to environmental concerns. Whilst being high in protein, meat is considered to have potential negative health impacts if regularly consumed in high qua

Brazil has been experiencing the impacts of strong natural phenomena since 2022, alternating between La Ninã and El Niño, which manifest with opposite effects across the country. While the former brings heavy rains to the Southeast and drought to the South, the latter, which started in 2023, and created serious damage in 2024, inverts the situation. This caused Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, to see a major natural disaster, with heavy rain and historic flooding in the first