Sesame Seeds Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Sesame is an oilseed used whole in bakery and confectionery, as tahini and halva, and crushed for oil and cosmetics. Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and India lead supply, and China, Japan, Turkey, South Korea and the Gulf states are the main buyers, with China taking about 39 percent of global imports.

Prices firmed modestly in 2026. West African white sesame traded near USD 1,000 per tonne FOB in January, a South Korean tender in May cleared at USD 1,388 to 1,599 CFR Busan, and the global average rose 2.4 percent from USD 2,045 in the first quarter to USD 2,095 in the second.

Sesame Seeds Prices in October 2026

Indian mandi prices averaged about USD 1,241 per tonne in October 2026 across 22 markets, about USD 167 above the 2026-27 minimum support price of USD 1,074, while standard grade traded near USD 1,400 FOB and premium white above USD 2,000. The price outlook is shaped by four key drivers.

• Ethiopia: Ethiopian Business View reported in August 2026 that security problems restricted supply, lifting ECX prices to a record, about 20 percent above a year earlier.
• Sudan: Sudan Tribune reported in July 2026 that drought delayed rains, leaving soil in Gedaref uncultivable nearly two months into the season, with sesame among the affected crops.
• Tanzania: The 2026/27 season opened in May 2026 with Songwe selling 1,923 tonnes to more than 10 bidders, and Tunduru later averaged about 1.6 percent above last season.
• India and freight: India's kharif output fell to 405,000 tonnes from 444,000, while Africa to Asia container rates rose 52 percent to USD 3,800 and Red Sea rerouting added USD 40 to 70 per tonne.

Supplier news: WACOT Limited and the Bank of Agriculture launched the 2026 Sesame Outgrower Programme in Jigawa State, Nigeria, in August 2026, targeting over 10,000 smallholders in 8 local government areas. Sudan's 2026 output is projected at 320,000 to 390,000 tonnes against about 485,000 in 2025, and Pakistan's new crop was offered at USD 1,050 to 1,100 per tonne in August. China imported 810,563 tonnes in the first seven months of 2026 at an average of USD 1,144 per tonne. Short term, Ethiopian records and Sudan drought support prices ahead of the November harvest. Long term, ample African supply and elevated Chinese inventories keep gains modest.

Sesame Seeds Price Forecast for H2 2026

Elevated Chinese inventories and improving Indian supply should continue keeping the broader market weak to stable through H2 2026, even as premium-grade demand in South Korea maintains a meaningful gap at the top of the range. Buyers are expected to continue favoring hand-to-mouth procurement strategies rather than aggressive restocking given the currently comfortable supply backdrop.

A poor Indian monsoon, or a sharp drawdown of elevated Chinese inventories, could be what pushes prices above this forecast. Continued ample carryover inventories and aggressive export competition could be what keeps the market closer to the lower end instead.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Sesame Seeds Prices Q2 2026:

• South Korea: USD 2,680.00/MT
• China: USD 2,140.00/MT
• India: USD 2,020.00/MT
• Nigeria: USD 1,540.00/MT

Sesame Seeds Prices in South Korea

South Korea stayed the priciest market by a wide margin, with the price moving from about USD 2,600.00/MT to near USD 2,680.00/MT, a gain of just above 3.1%. It was continued strong import demand for premium-grade sesame seeds, together with steady processing sector consumption, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q2 2026 in South Korea?

South Korean buyers have continued sourcing premium-grade sesame seeds for oil pressing and culinary applications, and it is this steady premium import demand, combined with tight availability of top-quality grades, that has kept South Korean pricing at the top of the range this quarter.

Sesame Seeds Prices in China

The Chinese price moved from about USD 2,100.00/MT to near USD 2,140.00/MT, a gain of just above 1.9%. It was a modest recovery in downstream demand, together with continued elevated inventories moderating the pace of the increase, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q2 2026 in China?

Demand from bakery, edible oil, and confectionery industries has shown early signs of picking back up from the cautious pace recorded earlier in the year, and it is this modest recovery, tempered by inventories that remain elevated following the earlier buildup, that has kept Chinese pricing on a measured upward path.

Sesame Seeds Prices in India

The Indian price moved from about USD 1,980.00/MT to near USD 2,020.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.0%. It was modest stabilization as buyers began restocking, together with improving export competitiveness, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q2 2026 in India?

Improving Indian supply, tied to rising sowing activity and ample carryover inventories, had pressured prices lower earlier in the year, and it is this same supply comfort, now meeting buyers beginning to restock after a period of cautious procurement, that has let Indian pricing stabilize and edge modestly higher this quarter.

Sesame Seeds Prices in Nigeria

The Nigerian price moved from about USD 1,500.00/MT to near USD 1,540.00/MT, a gain of just above 2.7%. It was steady export demand, together with typical seasonal supply conditions, that carried the modest increase.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q2 2026 in Nigeria?

Nigerian sesame seeds continue serving as a lower-cost origin for buyers seeking competitive pricing, and it is this cost positioning, combined with steady export demand, that has kept Nigerian pricing the most affordable of the four markets tracked even as it climbs gradually.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Sesame Seeds Prices Q1 2026:

• South Korea: USD 2,600.00/MT
• China: USD 2,100.00/MT
• India: USD 1,980.00/MT
• Nigeria: USD 1,500.00/MT

Sesame Seeds Prices in South Korea

The price eased to close to USD 2,600.00/MT in Q1 2026, a decline of just above 1.9% from Q4 2025. It was elevated Chinese inventories and improving Indian supply outweighing localized supply concerns, that pressured the market lower.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q1 2026 in South Korea?

Global sesame markets remained weak to stable during the quarter as elevated Chinese inventories and improving Indian supply outweighed localized supply concerns across exporting regions, and it was this ample availability, meeting cautious hand-to-mouth procurement strategies from buyers, that drove the South Korean decline.

Sesame Seeds Prices in China

The price eased to close to USD 2,100.00/MT in Q1 2026, a decline of just above 4.5% from Q4 2025. It was elevated Chinese inventories, together with cautious downstream buying, that pressured the market lower.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q1 2026 in China?

Elevated Chinese inventories weighed on market sentiment this quarter, and demand from bakery, edible oil, tahini, confectionery, snack, and health-food industries remained steady but cautious, with buyers continuing hand-to-mouth procurement strategies, and it was this combination that drove the Chinese decline.

Sesame Seeds Prices in India

The price eased to close to USD 1,980.00/MT in Q1 2026, a decline of just above 3.4% from Q4 2025. It was improving supply, together with aggressive export competition, that pressured the market lower.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q1 2026 in India?

Supply availability stayed comfortable due to rising sowing activity, ample carryover inventories, and aggressive export competition, while Strait of Hormuz disruptions slightly increased freight and logistics uncertainty, and it was this combination that drove the Indian decline, even as the freight impact stayed comparatively modest.

Sesame Seeds Prices in Nigeria

The price eased to close to USD 1,500.00/MT in Q1 2026, a decline of just above 3.2% from Q4 2025. It was aggressive export competition from major producing regions that pressured the market lower.

Why did the price of Sesame Seeds change in Q1 2026 in Nigeria?

Aggressive export competition from major producing regions, including improving Indian supply, weighed on Nigerian pricing this quarter, and it was this competitive pressure, meeting steady but cautious downstream demand, that drove the decline.

Quarterly Price Trends

This market eased through most of the six quarters tracked here before stabilizing in Q2 2026. Close to USD 2,192.50/MT in Q1 2025 eased to about USD 2,150.00/MT, near USD 2,110.00/MT, and close to USD 2,112.50/MT by Q4, before easing further to about USD 2,045.00/MT in Q1 2026 and recovering to near USD 2,095.00/MT in Q2. That is a decline of roughly 4.4% across the full window, tracking elevated inventories and cautious downstream buying closely.

Annual Price Review 2025

It was improving global supply conditions, tied to rising sowing activity and ample carryover inventories, meeting downstream demand that stayed steady but cautious across bakery, edible oil, tahini, confectionery, snack, and health-food industries, that drove the consistent 2025 softening. The global average opened near USD 2,192.50/MT in Q1 and eased to close to USD 2,112.50/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 3.6% for the year.

Sesame Seeds Prices in South Korea, 2025

The South Korean price eased from about USD 2,700.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 2,650.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 1.9% for the year, holding the highest absolute cost among the four markets tracked throughout. It was steady but cautious demand from bakery, edible oil, tahini, confectionery, snack, and health-food industries, meeting improving global supply conditions, that defined the gradual softening through 2025.

Sesame Seeds Prices in China, 2025

The Chinese price eased from about USD 2,300.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 2,200.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 4.3% for the year. It was elevated inventories building through the year, meeting downstream demand that stayed steady but cautious, that defined the gradual softening through 2025.

Sesame Seeds Prices in India, 2025

The Indian price eased from about USD 2,150.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 2,050.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 4.7% for the year, holding a comparatively moderate cost among the four markets tracked throughout. It was improving Indian supply, driven by rising sowing activity and healthy carryover inventories, meeting demand that stayed steady but cautious across importing regions, that drove the gradual softening through 2025.

Sesame Seeds Prices in Nigeria, 2025

The Nigerian price eased from about USD 1,620.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 1,550.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 4.3% for the year, the smallest absolute cost among the four markets tracked throughout. It was steady export demand, meeting competitive pricing pressure from other exporting origins, that defined the gradual softening through 2025.

How Expert Market Research Can Help

The Sesame Seeds market depends on monsoon-driven harvest cycles and shifting inventory dynamics across major importing markets, so Expert Market Research tracks Indian monsoon performance closely alongside Chinese inventory levels and freight and logistics conditions across the four markets covered here. This is combined with trade flow data to build the forecasts. For Sesame Seeds pricing data, custom analysis, or procurement strategy support, the team is glad to help.