How much sesame seed does India produce and export?
India is the largest producer of sesame seed: 866,111 tonnes in 2024, 13% of the world's 6.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the largest exporter by value: $581.6 million in 2024, 7.4% of world exports of sesame seed (HS 1207) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the United States, which takes 10% of its sesame seed exports by value.
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India's sesame seed production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 866,111 tonnes | 13% | +0.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37% | 20% | 21% | 12% | 13% |
India's sesame seed exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $581.6 million | 7.4% | 279,759 t | $2,079 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 1207 (Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits).
Where India's sesame seed goes
| Destination | Value | Share of India's exports |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $58M | 10% |
| South Korea | $44M | 7.5% |
| Russia | $42M | 7.3% |
| Vietnam | $30M | 5.2% |
| Iraq | $24M | 4.1% |
India as a buyer of sesame seed
India imported $475.8 million of sesame seed (HS 1207) in 2024, 6% of world imports, ranked #3. Of its $475.8 million of sesame seed imports in 2024, 40% came from Sudan and 28% from Brazil, among 63 suppliers. Largest sources: Sudan (40%), Brazil (28%), Nigeria (12%), Ghana (7%), Somalia (2.6%).
How much sesame seed India uses
India's domestic supply of sesame seed was 576 thousand tonnes in 2023, 12% of the world's. Food supply was 0.2 kg per person a year, 41st highest of 109 countries with a million or more people. It produced 114% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 18%. FAO's item is "Sesame seed". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "India sesame seed: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/IND/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.