Dry beans are the single most significant pulse crop worldwide and a dietary staple across Latin America, Africa and Asia.

High in protein, fibre, folate and iron, and naturally low in fat, they are central to both traditional cuisines and the growing plant-protein market. Demand continues to rise with the global appetite for sustainable, plant-based foods. India, China, Myanmar and Brazil are the largest producers, with the United States, Mexico and Tanzania also major contributors and Canada an established export player into the United States, Europe and Mexico. Global dry bean production is in the region of 28 to 30 million tonnes annually, having grown by more than 15% over the past decade.

Quick Facts

• Dry beans are the single largest pulse crop grown worldwide
• Leading origins: India, China, Myanmar, Brazil
• Global production: approx. 28–30 million tonnes annually
• Production has grown by more than 15% over the past decade
• High in protein, fibre, folate and iron, and naturally low in fat
• Canada is a fast-growing exporter, shipping mainly to the US, Europe and increasingly Mexico
• A dietary staple across Latin America, Africa and Asia for centuries
• Central to the global shift toward sustainable, plant-based eating