The great Chickpea race

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By Dwain Duxson - An Ag Enthusiast

The great Chickpea race - Something big is going on in Southern Queensland and Northern NSW that's keeping many very busy. It's to Harvest, Freight, and then Ship the Chickpea Crop to India before a tariff of 66 per cent comes in on March 31st, 2025.

And to make matters even more hectic, the Crop is a massive one. How exciting. The downside is that it's putting pressure on getting the rest of the Crop in the bin.

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Apparently, the Truck activity from Paddock/Silo to Port is like nothing ever seen before. Trucks from all over the country have converged in this area, and on the back of the demand, the freight rates have gone up by $10 a tonne. With Chickpeas at around $800 a tonne, it's not too much of a concern, but it has pushed the price of freight up for the other commodities as well.

It's been a hand-clapping gesture by India to delay the implementation of the tariff until after Harvest. Tariff decisions are usually made on the spot with no notice given, and not a lot of the time, it wrecks the market for the particular commodity. I'm not sure if the Chickpeas have to be landed in India by the cut-off date; I'm sure someone will be able to supply that information. If you are right in the thick of this massive logistical effort, can you please let us know how it's going from your point of view? Reply to dwaind@farmtender.com.au

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