Lentil Market Data, Classes, Grades and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-09Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$2.5B

Producing countries tracked

11

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

6

Trade corridors

6

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates for the 2025 United States lentil crop, published in January 2026. They are dated national crop measures—not global production, a class-specific supply balance, planting-seed availability, a current physical offer or a live delivered price.

United States lentil planted area

1.072

million acres · crop year 2025

United States lentil harvested area

949

thousand acres · crop year 2025

United States lentil yield

1112

lb per acre · crop year 2025

United States lentil production

10.6

million cwt · crop year 2025

Green, red, whole, split and planting lentils are separate products

Commercial lentil identity starts with class and color, then variety and product stage. Whole dry lentils, split or decorticated lentils, flour, canned product and planting seed have different processing, quality, packaging and regulatory requirements. USDA standards define lentil classes and special-grade treatment, while procurement specifications can add class, pack and destination requirements. Atlas retains class, form and intended use before comparing crop, grade, price or trade evidence.

Grade, moisture, defects, color and admixture travel with the lot

The cited USDA standard separates U.S. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and applies limits for defective, weevil-damaged and heat-damaged lentils, foreign material and stones, skinned and wrinkled lentils, contrasting lentils and inconspicuous admixture. It also defines color requirements and sample-grade conditions, including moisture above 14 percent and specified objectionable conditions. A comparable physical record therefore keeps the exact class, grade, inspection point, moisture, factor results, special-grade designation, crop, treatment, pack and certificate context attached.

Crop totals do not determine a delivered lentil price

USDA NASS estimated 10.6 million hundredweight of United States lentil production from 949,000 harvested acres in 2025, averaging 1,112 pounds per acre. Those dated aggregates combine states, classes, colors, varieties, grades, product destinations and contract structures. A delivered price still requires the exact class and form, grade and factor results, crop year, treatment, package, origin, destination, Incoterm, delivery window and current permitted physical evidence.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are green and red lentils interchangeable?

No. Color class, variety, seed-coat and cotyledon characteristics, size, intended use and market convention can differ. The declared class must remain attached to every lot and observation.

Are whole and split lentils the same trade product?

No. Splitting or decortication changes product stage, yield, quality factors, packaging and end use. Whole, split, hulled, flour and canned products must remain separate.

What does the 10.6 million hundredweight figure represent?

It is USDA NASS's estimate of total United States lentil production for crop year 2025. It combines classes and regions and is not global production or a current physical price.

Which fields make physical lentil offers comparable?

Class and color, variety, whole or split and hulled state, grade and inspection basis, moisture, defective and heat-damaged lentils, foreign material and stones, skinned and wrinkled lentils, contrasting lentils, admixture and color requirements, crop year, treatment, package and net weight, origin, phytosanitary or seed certification where applicable, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.