Sesame Seeds Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

South Korea remained the priciest Sesame Seeds market tracked, rising just above 3.1% in Q2 2026 to near USD 2,680.00/MT from about USD 2,600.00/MT in Q1, and it was strong premium-grade import demand that kept the market elevated. The global average climbed from close to USD 2,045.00/MT to near USD 2,095.00/MT, a gain of roughly 2.4%. As we can see, elevated Chinese inventories and improving Indian supply have outweighed localized supply concerns across exporting regions for much of this year, keeping the broader market weak to stable even as Strait of Hormuz disruptions have added modest freight and logistics uncertainty, and the global average is likely to run in the USD 2,020 to 2,250/MT range through the second half of the year.

Sesame Seeds are small oilseeds pressed into sesame oil or used whole in bakery, confectionery, tahini, and snack food applications, with demand also drawing from health-food and edible oil sectors. India ranks among the world's largest producers and consumers, with production heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall across key growing states including Gujarat and West Bengal, while China represents a major importing and processing market. Nigeria and other African origins serve as lower-cost alternative sources for price-sensitive buyers. Because this crop depends on monsoon-driven harvest cycles and carries meaningful quality-grade premiums, monsoon performance in India, inventory levels across major importing markets like China, and freight and logistics conditions affecting international trade flows are what really move the price from quarter to quarter.

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.