How much sesame seed does China produce and export?
China is the nullth largest producer of sesame seed: 380,000 tonnes in 2024, 5.7% of the world's 6.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 4th largest exporter by value: $447.7 million in 2024, 5.7% of world exports of sesame seed (HS 1207) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is South Korea, which takes 25% of its sesame seed exports by value.
All about sesame seed · All about China
China's sesame seed production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 380,000 tonnes | 5.7% | -4.9% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21% | 31% | 14% | 7% | 5.7% |
China's sesame seed exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | $447.7 million | 5.7% | 154,176 t | $2,904 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 1207 (Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits).
Where China's sesame seed goes
| Destination | Value | Share of China's exports |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $113M | 25% |
| Spain | $44M | 9.8% |
| Vietnam | $36M | 8.1% |
| Other Asia, nes | $26M | 5.9% |
| Netherlands | $25M | 5.6% |
China as a buyer of sesame seed
China imported $2.2 billion of sesame seed (HS 1207) in 2024, 27% of world imports, ranked #1. Of its $2.2 billion of sesame seed imports in 2024, 24% came from Niger and 10% from Pakistan, among 60 suppliers. Largest sources: Niger (24%), Pakistan (10%), Mozambique (10%), Tanzania (9.7%), Australia (9.1%).
How much sesame seed China uses
China's domestic supply of sesame seed was 1.3 million tonnes in 2023, 28% of the world's. Food supply was 0.4 kg per person a year, 26th highest of 109 countries with a million or more people. It produced 34% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 69%. FAO's item is "Sesame seed". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "China sesame seed: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHN/sesame/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.