Pakistan has seen a dramatic rise in its sesame seed exports to China, marking a 300% increase in export value during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The update was shared by Ghulam Qadir, Trade and Investment Counsellor at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing.

Between January and June 2025, Pakistan exported over 46 million kilograms of sesame seeds to China, valued at approximately $57.44 million. In contrast, exports during the same timeframe in 2024 stood at just 8.6 million kilograms, worth $14.39 million.

A key contributor to this export surge is the reduction in average price per kilogram, which dropped from $1.67 in 2024 to $1.24 in 2025. This strategic pricing has made Pakistani sesame increasingly attractive to Chinese buyers, allowing it to outperform African competitors in value terms.

Pakistan now holds the position of the fourth-largest sesame supplier to China, following Niger, Togo, and Ethiopia. While Niger led with over 348 million kg worth $471 million, Pakistan’s pricing competitiveness has given it an edge.

Exporters credit this growth to improved trade facilitation, the growing number of Pakistani farmers turning to sesame cultivation, and enhanced efforts in quality assurance. As bilateral trade deepens, sesame has emerged as a high-potential agricultural export, reinforcing Pakistan’s reliability in global agri-supply chains.

Market analysts believe this performance not only strengthens Pakistan’s foothold in the Chinese market but also signals a strategic opportunity to expand further in the food ingredient and oilseed sector globally.