Legumes Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Beans, Chickpeas, Lentils, Soybeans, and Others), By Packaging (Canned, Plastic, and Others), By End-User (Household, Foodservice, and Food Processing), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global legume market has been recording significant growth in recent years owing to the rising demand for plant-based products among individuals. This rising demand for plant-based products range is attributed to the increasing awareness of the health benefits associated with a vegan diet and the harmful effects of poultry and animal husbandry on the environment and animals. The number of initiatives taken by PETA and other organizations to increase awareness among consumers toward animal welfare is another contributor to the rising demand for vegan products globally.

There are various types of legumes, such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, and others, which are available globally and have a significant demand across households, food services, and the food processing industry. The food processing industry has shown rapid growth with rising innovations across plant-based food products. In addition, the rising awareness related to the health benefits associated with the consumption of chickpeas, beans, and soy has further fueled the global market growth.

However, the global market faced several implications owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, governments across the globe had to implement several trade and transportation restrictions. These restrictions resulted in a decline in global production with limited availability of labor, and trade restrictions resulted in disruption of the supply chain.

In recent years, the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and lactose intolerance has been rising. This has led to an increase in awareness among individuals toward healthy eating habits and thus further contributes to the increasing consumption of plant-based protein products and healthy snacking products. This plant-based healthy snacking protein contains various types of legumes, especially chickpeas, which is further resulting in rising demand for legumes in the global market. Legumes such as peas, chickpeas, beans, and others are usually considered and thus consumed as healthy snacks. This rising awareness among individuals and the growing number of new healthy snacking product launches across the globe will eventually lead to the growth of the legume market globally.

For instance, in January 2024, HIPPEAS, a plant-based snacks manufacturer, announced the launch of the Flavor Blast! Chickpea Puffs healthy snacking line. This all-new product line includes two flavors called Vegan White Cheddar Explosion and Blazin' Hot.

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Overview of Parent Market


• Supply Chain Analysis


• Industry SWOT Analysis


• Key Industry Developments (Product launches, Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on Legumes Market

LEGUMES MARKET SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

Analysis by Type

The type segment is further divided into beans, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, and others. The beans segment holds a major share of the global market. The higher share of beans is owing to its diverse range of applications in various culinary and regional dishes across the globe. Chickpeas is another prominent segment with its significant protein content. Further, chickpeas have had a higher demand across plant-based food manufacturers. The rising demand for soy milk is also said to be one of the significant factors that fuel the global market growth in the forecast period.

For instance, as per the data published by the Plant-Based Foods Association, the sales of plant-based food products have recorded a growth of around 7% in 2023, from which plant-based milk remains the largest segment. Furthermore, as per the data, around 40% of U.S. households purchased plant-based milk. The report also mentions that soy is one of the most popular ingredients in the plant-based dairy and food market.

Analysis by Packaging

The packaging segment is further divided into canned, plastic, and others. The rising household consumption and growing demand for RTE products are expected to fuel the growth of the canned product range. However, owing to the convenience and price parity caused by plastic packaging, the plastic segment does have a prominent share of the global market. However, with the growing environmental consciousness among individuals and the rising implementation of reducing carbon footprints by market players, the increasing number of compostable and other packing materials can be observed in the global market.

Analysis by End-User

The end-user segment includes households, foodservice, and food processing. The higher demand for beans in households across the globe contributes to the prominence of the household segment. However, with the rapidly growing food service industry and with the changing consumer landscape, increasing demand for convenient and out-of-home food has risen, which has contributed to the increasing share of the food service segment.

In addition, the rapidly changing food processing industry with growing demand for vegan and plant-based products has spiked the use of soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas in the food processing sector. This ever-increasing veganism and demand for healthy snacks are among the most prominent factors expected to cater to the rapid growth of demand for legumes in the food processing industry in the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

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The global market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is one of the most prominent regions with a rapidly growing demand for plant-based protein. This higher demand is owing to the significantly developed foodservice industry in the U.S. and European region consisting of countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and others, which has been one of the most significant regions with diverse consumer bases. The region has a higher emphasis on sustainable farming and has been boosting organic products. With consumer demands growing toward lactose-free and healthy foods, the legume market is poised for significant growth.

Asia Pacific leads in production, with India and China playing key roles due to traditional culinary uses and growing health awareness. The South American region consists of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and others, has a higher share in global products, and is a prominent exporter of legumes with favorable climatic conditions, thus making these products a staple in these regions. The Middle East & Africa region, with growing globalization, tourism, increasing agricultural investments, and local consumption, shows potential for growth.

Key Players Covered

• The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)


• Nomad Foods


• B&G Foods, Inc.


• Olam International


• The Good Bean


• Biena Snacks LLC


• Conagra Brands, Inc.


• Galdisa


• General Mills


• Morgan Foods, Inc.

Key Industry Developments

• In July 2024, Pepsico, Co. announced the launch of its all-new healthy snacks range under its brand Walkers. The new range of snack products includes baked chips made with chickpeas. In addition, the all-new chickpeas chips product line includes three new flavors: BBQ sauce, cheese toastie, and crispy bacon.


• In April 2024, Yeo Hiap Seng, a Singapore-based food product manufacturer, announced the launch of its all-new innovative soy milk product. The new product is called Yeo’s Immuno Soy Milk and is said to be fortified with vitamin B6 and zinc. The fortification is to support and improve the immune system.


• In October 2022, Calbee Harvest Snaps announced the launch of its all-new healthy snacks product line under the Harvest Snaps brand called Selects Baked Navy Bean Snacks. This all-new product lineup includes plant-based chips made from farm-picked navy beans in three flavors: loaded taco, white cheddar jalapeno, and honey dijon.