South America Peas Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Report - Forecast Trends and Outlook 2026-2030

The South America Peas Market covers the supply chain from field cultivation of dry peas (primarily Pisum sativum) through primary processing and the manufacture of value-added pea derivatives. Derivatives, protein isolates, concentrates, pea flours, and starches, represent an increasingly important and faster-growing component, having generated USD 226.2 million in revenue in 2022. The total peas market is projected to advance from USD 1.21 billion in 2025 to USD 1.28 billion in 2026 and reach approximately USD 1.66 billion by 2031, underpinned by the region's agricultural capacity, rising food processing activity, and growing consumer interest in plant-based nutrition.

• •Total market valued at ~USD 1.21 billion in 2025; projected to reach USD 1.66 billion by 2031
• •Pea derivatives sub-market reached USD 226.2 million in 2022 and is growing at a 9.5 percent CAGR (2023-2030), significantly outpacing the broader peas market
• •Demand is driven by applications in food and beverage (plant-based proteins, clean-label ingredients), animal feed, and functional ingredient formulations

Rising health and wellness awareness across Latin America is increasing consumer demand for plant-based and protein-enriched food products, directly boosting pea and pea-protein consumption. The derivatives segment benefits from the global trend toward sustainable, non-allergenic protein sources, as pea protein offers a favorable environmental profile relative to animal-based alternatives. Expanding food processing capacity and the growth of modern retail and e-commerce channels are improving product availability and market penetration for pea-based ingredients throughout the region.

• •Plant-based and flexitarian dietary trends are accelerating demand for pea protein isolates and concentrates in processed food formulations
• •Clean-label and non-GMO positioning makes pea-derived ingredients attractive to regional food manufacturers reformulating product portfolios
• •Expanding distribution channels, including digital and social commerce platforms, are broadening market access for pea-based consumer products

The market splits into raw peas (primarily for animal feed and basic food use) and processed derivatives (protein isolates, concentrates, flours, and functional ingredients for the food and beverage industry). Brazil dominates regional production and processing capacity, supported by its large-scale agricultural sector and growing domestic food manufacturing base. Argentina holds a meaningful share of both cultivation and derivative processing, buoyed by established pulses-export infrastructure and a well-developed agri-food sector.

• •Brazil accounts for the largest share of South American pea cultivation and processing, driven by extensive agricultural acreage and domestic food-industry demand
• •Argentina is a key secondary producer with established pulses-export logistics and a growing fractionation capacity for protein ingredients
• •Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay represent smaller but individually growing markets, with demand closely tied to local food-manufacturing expansion

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The South America Peas Market exhibits a moderately fragmented structure, with a broad base of mid-sized agricultural producers, regional processors, and a smaller cohort of larger integrated operators handling both cultivation and downstream processing. Among the major companies operating in this space, Cargill, Incorporated leverages its continental grain-handling infrastructure to secure origination advantages across Argentina and Brazil, positioning it as a dominant force in large-scale supply. AGT Food and Ingredients anchors its competitive standing through specialty pulse-fractionation capabilities directed at export markets, while Olam International differentiates itself via integrated supply chains that link Andean smallholders directly to international offtake agreements. Cargill, Ingredion Incorporated, Glanbia plc, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, and Roquette Frères round out the tier of leading ingredient manufacturers competing in this market. Across the board, the competitive dynamic increasingly favors scale and integration as firms capture greater value from the rising demand for pea protein isolates and derivative products. The landscape is shaped by two broad producer types, vertically integrated agri-industrial groups managing planting through ingredient packaging, and specialized processors focused on fractionation technology and high-purity output, with the advantage tilting toward operators that can hedge supply volatility through localized sourcing strategies.

• •Market structure is moderately fragmented with concentration around Brazil and Argentina, where integrated agri-food groups control the largest share of primary crushing and fractionation capacity
• •Process technology routes span dry milling (flour and protein concentrate production) and wet fractionation (protein isolate extraction), with wet fractionation requiring higher capital investment
• •Regional capacity is heavily concentrated in Brazil and Argentina; other South American countries rely more heavily on imported pea ingredients or maintain small-scale local processing

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Pea derivatives are expected to grow substantially faster than the overall peas market, as food manufacturers continue substituting animal and soy proteins with plant-based alternatives. Sustainability credentials, including lower water usage and reduced land requirements relative to animal proteins, are becoming a meaningful commercial differentiator for pea-derived ingredients in the region. Ongoing improvements in fractionation and purification technology are lowering production costs, which should further support price competitiveness and broader adoption across Latin American food and beverage applications through 2030 and beyond.

• •Derivative products (protein isolates, concentrates, flours) are forecast to outpace the base peas market, supported by rising plant-based food product launches across Latin America
• •Sustainability and carbon-footprint claims are influencing procurement decisions, with pea protein increasingly favored over animal-derived and other plant proteins
• •Advancements in dry and wet fractionation technologies are improving yields and reducing costs, supporting margin expansion and greater price competitiveness versus alternative protein ingredients