Pakistan’s sesame seed exports to China have witnessed a remarkable boom in 2025, reaching $68.56 million in just the first three quarters of the year — a significant leap from $36.59 million recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), this clearly depicts an impressive 87% year-on-year increase, reflecting Pakistan’s growing strength in agricultural trade with its largest regional partner.
Between January and September 2025, Pakistan shipped 55.61 million kilograms of sesame seeds to China, sold at an average price of $1.23 per kilogram. In comparison, during the same period last year, exports stood at 23.95 million kilograms at a slightly higher average price of $1.52 per kilogram.
China’s Expanding Demand for Sesame
Globally, China’s demand for sesame seeds has been increasing, mainly due to their use in
- Edible oils
- Snacks
- Sauces
- Traditional food processing
The GACC data has unveiled that Niger continues to be China’s top sesame supplier, exporting $543.02 million worth of seeds, followed by Togo ($189.10 million) and Tanzania ($161.68 million). Pakistan’s growing share in this competitive market signals a major achievement for its agricultural exporters.
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Strengthening Pak-China Agricultural Partnership
Industry insiders attribute the growth to improved agricultural practices, better post-harvest handling, and increasing collaboration with Chinese enterprises. Over the past few years, Chinese importers have been working closely with Pakistani traders to make certain higher quality and consistency in shipments.
Ambassador Khalil Hashmi highlighted this progress, recalling the “Sesame Trade and Investment Opportunities in China” event held in September 2024, where a 23-member Pakistani delegation signed deals worth $28 million for 15,000 metric tons of sesame.
“Today, 177 Pakistani sesame companies are registered in China, depicting the growing trust and cooperation between both countries,” he said.
A Promising Future Despite Challenges
While professionals noted that recent floods have temporarily affected production, they are extremely hopeful that Pakistan’s favorable climate, high-quality crops, and expanding export capacity will sustain this upward trend.
With China’s demand showing no signs of slowing, Pakistan’s sesame seed trade appears poised for an even stronger performance in the years ahead.