The global chickpea flour market is projected to grow from USD 2.71 billion in 2025 to USD 5.36 billion by 2035, registering a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% during the forecast period. This expansion is driven by rising consumer awareness of health and nutrition, growing demand for gluten-free and plant-based protein alternatives, and increasing applications of chickpea flour in foodservice and packaged foods.
Chickpea flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is gaining popularity due to its rich protein content, high dietary fiber, and versatile culinary applications. It is widely used in gluten-free baking, snacks, and traditional cuisines across Asia, the Middle East, and increasingly in Western markets. The rising trend toward vegan and vegetarian diets has further accelerated its adoption as a sustainable and nutritious ingredient.
The market is witnessing innovation in product formats, such as roasted chickpea flour and pre-mixed blends, catering to consumer convenience and taste preferences. Expanding distribution channels, including online retail and supermarkets, are enhancing market accessibility. Moreover, the growing use of chickpea flour in clean-label and functional foods underscores its evolving role in modern diets.
Regionally, Asia Pacific dominates the market due to strong traditional consumption and expanding food processing industries in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. North America and Europe are experiencing significant growth fueled by health-conscious consumers and rising demand for gluten-free and plant-based products.
In an interview with Food Ingredients First in 2024, James McHardy, CEO of PlantPro Innovations, stated, “Consumers are increasingly looking for plant-based, protein-rich, hypoallergenic ingredients, and chickpea flour hits the sweet spot-it’s nutritious, sustainable, and perfect for clean-label products.” His insights reflect the growing global momentum behind chickpea flour as a key ingredient in health-focused food innovation. With evolving consumer preferences and expanding industrial use, the chickpea flour market is set for sustained and dynamic growth through 2035.
Key Industry Attributes
Attribute | Detail |
---|---|
Industry Size (2025) | USD 2.71 billion |
Industry Size (2035) | USD 5.36 billion |
CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 7.1% |
Desi chickpea flour dominates with a 59.3% market share in 2024, attributed to widespread cultivation and established supply chains in tropical regions. Conventional chickpea flour leads product claims with an 86.4% share, driven by its extensive use across bakery, beverages, animal feed, and dairy sectors.
Desi chickpea flour is projected to account for 59.3% of the global chickpea flour market by 2024. This dominance is primarily due to the widespread cultivation of desi or indigenous chickpeas in tropical and subtropical regions such as India, Pakistan, and parts of Africa. The desi variety’s resilience to varied climatic conditions ensures a steady and abundant supply chain, meeting the increasing demand in these regions.
Its distinct earthy flavor and granular texture make desi chickpea flour highly preferred in traditional recipes, including various Indian snacks, batters, and baked goods. Furthermore, the rising trend towards gluten-free and protein-rich diets is propelling demand for desi chickpea flour globally, expanding its presence beyond conventional markets.
While Kabuli chickpea flour, known for its smoother texture and nutty flavor, is gaining traction, desi chickpea flour’s affordability and availability secure its lead. Market players are investing in improved milling technology and quality control to enhance the flour’s consistency, shelf life, and consumer acceptance, solidifying its position in both domestic and export markets through 2035.
Conventional chickpea flour is estimated to hold an 86.4% share in 2024 based on product claims, reflecting its entrenched presence in the global market. The conventional segment benefits from established agricultural practices, which provide a consistent and cost-effective supply of chickpeas suitable for large-scale flour production.
This flour type is widely used across various industries, including bakery, confectionery, extruded snacks, beverages, animal feed, and dairy products, due to its reliable quality and processing characteristics. The extensive application base supports high production volumes and reinforces conventional chickpea flour’s dominance.
Despite the growing interest in organic and specialty chickpea flours, conventional products remain preferred for their affordability, availability, and compatibility with existing manufacturing processes. Producers are focusing on optimizing milling efficiency and storage conditions to maintain nutritional integrity and extend shelf life.
As consumer demand for plant-based proteins and gluten-free ingredients continues to rise, conventional chickpea flour is well-positioned to sustain its market leadership. Continuous innovations in flour quality and application development will further support its growth through 2035.
Chickpeas predominantly grow in tropical and sub-tropical regions and chickpea flour is prominently utilized in Indian cuisine for cooking and baking. However, it is gaining traction as a functional ingredient for the food processing industries across the world owing to the healthy balance of amino acids, relatively low levels of anti-nutritional factors, high levels of complex carbohydrates, and bioavailability of proteins.
Despite these positive prospects, some likely challenges stay ahead for the industry including a shift in consumer preferences, a low degree of security in raw material supply, and other manufacturing inputs. Additionally, many other market segments are expected to perform fairly and attain promising growth prospects in the next half of the projection period.
The table below lists the countries with high demand for chickpea flour according to the analysis of the chickpea flour industry.
Regional Market Comparison | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
---|---|
United States | 7.8% |
Japan | 6.9% |
Germany | 7.1% |
India | 7.5% |
China | 6.6% |
The United States chickpea flour market is poised to thrive with a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period. In developed regions, such as the United States, chickpea flour has gained traction recently, as a large consumer base in the region is looking for healthy food products.
The pervasive health and wellness trend is likely to provide an impetus to the demand for chickpea flour in the country during the assessment period, especially among the vegan and vegetarian population.
Chickpea flour consumption in Germany is set to witness a promising CAGR of 7.1% from 2025 to 2035. Though the production of chickpeas is higher in Mediterranean Europe, chickpea flour has been highly used in the baking and food processing industries of Germany. In particular, health-conscious consumers in Germany have increased their consumption of gluten-free flour, resulting in the expansion of the chickpea or garbanzo flour market.
The chickpea flour industry of China is anticipated to register a CAGR of 6.6% during the projected years. Due to the higher production of chickpeas, China holds a significant share of the chickpea powder market in the Asia Pacific. In addition, chickpea powder is a staple ingredient in many South and Southeast Asian countries, which is expected to increase the export of chickpea flour from China.
The share of chickpea flour in Japanese food culture is poised to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% over the next ten years. The increasing consumption of chickpea flour in Japan is attributable to its high nutritional value among existing plant-based protein sources. Recently, sales through online channels have opened up new growth avenues for chickpea flour manufacturers in Japan.
Regional sales of chickpea flour in India are likely to increase at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2025 and 2035.
India continues to provide promising growth avenues for chickpea flour manufacturers, owing to the high production and consumption of chickpeas in the retail market. Moreover, India’s centrality to the global chickpea-based flour market is the key reason for the dominance of the Asia Pacific in the chickpea flour industry.
The overall market is moderately competitive and mostly concentrated in Asia, particularly in tropical countries. Key reasons for this moderate competition can be attributed to the slow uptake of the market during the first half of the forecast period owing to limited end-user demand in key economies and the availability of other substitutes.
Leading market players are also investing heavily in the development of organic chickpea flour and diversifying their product lines to serve a larger customer base. On the other hand, emerging market player and companies are focusing more on collaboration and strengthening supply chains in a bid to consolidate their position.
Recent Developments in the Global Chickpea Flour Market
Report Attributes | Details |
---|---|
Market Size (2025) | USD 2.71 billion |
Projected Market Size (2035) | USD 5.36 billion |
CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 7.1% |
Base Year for Estimation | 2024 |
Historical Period | 2020 to 2024 |
Projections Period | 2025 to 2035 |
Quantitative Units | USD billion for value and metric tons for volume |
Product Types Analyzed (Segment 1) | Desi, Kabuli |
Distribution Channels Analyzed (Segment 2) | Food Chain Services, Modern Trade, Convenience Store, Departmental Store, Online Store, Other Distribution Channels |
End-Use Applications Analyzed (Segment 3) | Food & Beverage Processing, Bakery or Baked Goods, Confectionery and Desserts, Savory Snacks, Ready to Eat Products, Pasta & Macaroni, Energy & Protein Bars, Meat Alternatives, Dairy Replacements and Products, Mayonnaise, Sauces, Condiments and Dressings, Extruded Products, Other Food & Beverages (Batter Mixes, Gravy Thickeners, Infant Nutrition), Retail Sales, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Departmental Stores, Wholesale Stores, Specialty Food Stores, Other Stores, Ready-to-Drink Beverages, Dairy-based Beverages, Non-dairy or Plant-based Beverages, Nutraceuticals, Sports Nutrition, Animal Feed, Pet Food |
Product Claims Analyzed (Segment 4) | Organic or Non-GMO, Conventional |
Regions Covered | North America; Latin America; Europe; East Asia; South Asia and Pacific; Middle East and Africa |
Countries Covered | United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, UAE, South Africa |
Key Players Influencing the Market | Parakh Agro Industries Ltd, Ingredion, Anchor Ingredients, CanMar Grain Products, The Scoular Company, SunOpta, Bean Growers Australia, EHL Limited, Blue Ribbon, Batory Foods, Diefenbaker Spice & Pulse |
Additional Attributes | Dollar sales trends by region, consumer demand drivers, key application growth, competitive landscape, pricing analysis, emerging product claims, retail channel share, regulatory outlook. |
The global chickpea flour market is estimated to be around USD 2.71 billion in 2025.
The global chickpea flour market is marked to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.
The global chickpea flour market is predicted to be valued at USD 5.36 billion by 2034.
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