Strong Growth in 2025 Trade Data
Pakistan’s sesame seed exports to China jumped 87% in the first nine months of 2025, reaching $68.56 million, according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
From January to September 2025, Pakistan shipped 55.61 million kilograms of sesame seeds at an average price of $1.23 per kilogram. In the same period last year, exports totalled 23.95 million kilograms worth $36.59 million. This marks a 132% rise in export volume, showing the sector’s rapid expansion.
High-Quality Crop and Stronger Trade Links
Officials credit the impressive performance to better crop quality, favourable weather, and enhanced agricultural cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The surge also matches China’s rising demand for edible oils, snacks, and traditional foods, where sesame remains a core ingredient.
New Trade Deals and Export Registrations
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, highlighted the success of the “Sesame Trade and Investment Opportunities in China” event held in September 2024. A 23-member Pakistani delegation secured 15,000 metric tons in new deals and signed a $28 million MoU with Daming government-backed enterprises.
Hashmi also noted that 177 Pakistani sesame exporters are now registered in China, a sign of deeper trade integration and long-term cooperation.
China’s Expanding Sesame Market
China is the world’s largest importer of sesame, purchasing about 1.5 million tons annually while producing only a small share domestically. According to GACC, Niger remained China’s top supplier in 2025 with exports worth $543.02 million, followed by Togo ($189.10 million) and Tanzania ($161.68 million).
A Strategic Boost for Pakistan’s Agriculture
Experts see Pakistan’s strong performance as a strategic breakthrough for its agriculture exports, which have long been dominated by other crops. Despite flood-related challenges, improved processing facilities, higher global prices, and closer bilateral ties are expected to sustain this momentum.
They believe sesame has now become a key export driver, helping Pakistan diversify its agricultural base while strengthening agri-industrial cooperation with China, its largest trading partner.
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