Chia seeds: new plantings due to heat and drought
May 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Difficult crop year 2024
In their latest report, the experts from Chelmer Foods shed light on the current situation on the global chia seed market. The market faced considerable hurdles in 2024 after the South American crops were extremely low despite an expansion in acreage; the dry weather conditions led to heavy yield losses. As global demand remains high, there is now hardly any product available from the 2024 crop, and organic chia seeds in particular are scarce.
The Indian crop 2025, which was completed in April, is estimated at 5,000-6,000 mt. Prices here have risen in recent weeks due to high demand – buyers in the US in particular are showing great interest in Indian chia seeds, while buyers in the EU are more cautious due to strict import regulations.
Drought poses challenges for farmers
In Argentina, the acreage is once again larger than last year, although there were significant disruptions due to the weather. The early plantings had to be reseeded due to the hot and dry conditions, according to the market experts. The weather has since improved and, as in India, crop estimates are 5,000-6,000 mt. The price indications for black chia seeds from Argentina, 99.95% purity, from the old crop, are currently at USD 2,150/mt FOB Buenos Aires.
|
Chia seeds |
|
|
Conventional, FOB |
USD/mt |
|
Sortex, India |
2,000 |
|
Argentina, black, 99.95%, 2024 crop |
2,150 |
|
Argentina, black, 99.95%, 2025 crop |
2,050 |
|
Trade sources; price indications |
|
Up to 100,000 mt in Paraguay
In Bolivia, sowing has been delayed, but the weather conditions are favourable with constant temperatures and sufficient moisture. Many farmers are nevertheless deciding to use their acreage for corn and soybeans due to China's strong demand for food and animal feed. Bolivian exporters are also increasingly buying chia seeds from Paraguay to re-export them to China.
The crop in Paraguay is expected to be good this year. Estimates of the acreage vary slightly, but are as high as 220,000 hectares. As in Argentina, new plantings were also made in Paraguay after the first sowing in February was destroyed by heat and drought. The problem is that the later plantings are more susceptible to the cold temperatures in June, July and August. For several weeks, however, market players have been talking about optimal conditions, and if frost damage is not too severe, this year's crop could be 70,000-100,000 mt, according to Chelmer Foods.
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