June 8, 2026
French pulses enter the 2026 harvest campaign on contrasting paths. Yellow peas are facing softer demand from both feed and food sectors despite stabilising production, while faba beans continue to benefit from strong yields after a record-supply year that pressured prices but found willing buyers. Cyril Gallien of RAGT Seeds reviews the outlook for both markets as harvest approaches.
Despite the supply overhang, French faba export quality remained strong, with Norway holding steady and new volumes moving to Egypt, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
French yellow pea production in 2025 came in at an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes, broadly in line with the prior year, as area contracted to 96,000 ha. Utilisation, however, was under pressure from two directions simultaneously. On the feed side, competitive soymeal pricing eroded yellow pea's appeal as a protein source. On the food side, reduced activity from the plant-based processing sector dampened demand for pea protein applications — a segment that had been a meaningful driver of French yellow pea consumption in recent years.
"The industrial sectors for both feed and food outlets decreased their interest for yellow peas," says Cyril Gallien, peas and beans specialist at RAGT Seeds. "Nevertheless, all the players are now covered till harvest 2026."
That coverage offers near-term stability, even if the structural backdrop remains challenging. Export flows reflect the domestic orientation of the French yellow pea market. Belgium is the primary destination, absorbing between 30,000 and 100,000 tonnes depending on the year, while China, Spain, Germany and Switzerland account for a few thousand tonnes each annually.
READ THE FULL ARTICLEFrench yellow pea area contracted to 96,000 ha in 2025 but is forecast to recover to around 103,000 ha in 2026, with crop conditions currently favourable.
Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this publication are those of the authors or quoted persons. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Global Pulse Confederation or its members.
