Sesame Seed Guide

• South Sudan
  

- No tariff schedules were found, but the information was found about South Sudan’s tariff structure.

- Exports from South Sudan are very small and mostly informal cross-border trading; hence tariffs are mainly focused on imports.

• Ethiopia: Zero export duty rate of sesame seeds from Ethiopia
• Tanzania: Zero tariffs for export of sesame seeds from Tanzania
• Myanmar [Burma]: According to the Myanmar National Trade Portal, the customs tariff of Myanmar MCT is 3% per kg for sesame seed.
• India: Zero tariffs for export of sesame seeds from India

None of Nigeria's top 5 sesame trading partners apply import tariffs.

Source: ITC Trade Map

Sesame plants are drought tolerant and can be grown in areas where other crops would fail. Small-scale farmers often choose to grow sesame seeds because it is fairly easy to cultivate. 

Planting is normally done with a mechanical planter, and seeds are planted on ridges. 

During the growing season, weeding and pest control are important. The most vital stage for weeding is in the first month after planting.

Sesame seeds are ready to be harvested between 90-130 after planting.

When the majority of the capsules turn dark, the harvest starts. If the harvest is delayed, seeds might drop off the plant when harvested.

In the case of small-scale farmers, plants are cut down using a sickle. They are then bundled together and left upright to dry.

A week after the harvest, these bundles are threshed to gather the seeds. Bundles are often lightly beaten with a stick over a tarp. Seeds drop down on the tarp and are collected.

Source: Agri4Africa

After threshing, foreign debris is removed and the seeds are sieved and cleaned. This is done either manually or with mechanical separators.

Sesame seeds are best stored at moisture levels below 10%. Further drying might be needed at this stage. Sesame seeds are best stored unshelled, in dry conditions.  

Sesame seed is divided into white/raw and brown mixed, with different main production regions. 

In 2019, the top producer of sesame seed was Sudan, which held 18.2% of the global market share with an annual production volume (metric ton) of 981K MT. This was followed by Myanmar [Burma] with 14.3% of the global market share, India (13.8%), Nigeria (10.6%), and Tanzania (10.4%). Those countries have an annual production as follows: Myanmar [Burma] (768.86K MT), India (746K MT), Nigeria (572.76K MT), and Tanzania (561.10K MT).

Refer to the table below to find out which regions are producing the most within the countries:

The top importers of Nigerian sesame seeds, according to value are

China, USD 126.86 M (45% of Nigeria's total exports), from 105,481 mt 

Japan, USD 64.91 M (23%), from 157,285 mt

Türkiye, USD 27.64 M (10%), from 20,669 mt

Vietnam, USD 21.48 M (8%), from 15,824 mt

Greece, USD 9.40 M (3%), from 101,020 mt

Nigeria's sesame seed exports in 2021 reached USD 284.70 M, from 427,388 mt. 

In 2019, the top exporter of sesame seed was India, with an annual export value of USD 528.92M, holding up about 21.7% of the global market share. This was followed by Nigeria which made up 15.7% of the global market share and reached USD 382.31M of export value, Sudan (13.5%) with an export value of USD 328.87M, Myanmar [Burma] (10%), and export value of USD 244.39M, and Ethiopia (6.4%) with an export value of USD 156.32M.

In 2019, Japan and Turkey were the largest importers of sesame seeds, accounting for 14.7% and 13.7% of the world’s imports. Japan’s import value of USD 311.10M with import quantity around 181.22K MT, followed by Turkey with an import value of USD 288.96M and import quantity of 185.00K MT, and also China with an import value of USD 208.91M and import quantity of 97.42K MT.

Sesame see is produced according to the target market. There are 2 types of sesame produced in Nigeria

1. White/raw = Food-grade used in the bakery industry. 98-100% whitest grade seeds.

2. Brown/mixed = Primarily oil-grade. 

There are several varieties farmers can choose from. However, the most important and most popular varieties are listed below:

Source: National Cereals Research Institute, Nigeria

Packaging is done in jute bags or polypropylene bags with 45-50kg weights.

[South Sudan]

• The crop survives when grown in hotter than optimal temperatures.
• It requires a constant high temperature of about 26-30°C for growth, blossoms, and fruit ripeness.
• Low temperature may cause sterile pollen or premature flower fall during flowering.
• Moisture, length of the rainy season, and temperature determine the time of planting of sesame seeds.
• It is advised to plant sesame seeds immediately after the first rains in dry areas with short rainy months.
• Row spacing of 25–75 cm is advised for the crop.

[Tanzania]

• Broadcasting Seeds: It is the most common seeding method used by smallholder farmers. The seeds are often mixed with sand, soil, or ash and then broadcast or drilled by hand in small furrows.
• Seed Drilling in Rows. The crop can be planted mechanically under large-scale production—the equipment varying from small hand-operated seeder units or animal-drawn drills to tractor-operated electronically controlled air seeders.

[Nigeria]

- Commercial

• Planting is usually done on ridges using a mechanical planter placed in rows of 60cm x 10 cm
  

- Subsistence

• Broadcast in plain lands: The seed should be cultivated on a relatively flat and well-drained loam or loamy soil with a pH range of 5.5–6.7 at a soil depth of 1.5–2.5 cm.
• Planting on a flatbed should be with inter-row and intra-row spacing of 60 cm x 10 cm at a seed rate of 4 KG/HA when drilling or 5 KG/HA when broadcasting.
• Thinning should be done three weeks after planting (WAP) to about two plants per stand along with the roll.

[India]

• Sesame seeds have a thin shell or husk which needs to be removed, and this process is known as dehulling.
• The dry dehulling process is generally followed in which the sesame seeds are cleaned at a certain level. This dehydrates the moisture in the hull quickly and is brittle. Then the dehulling clash method is applied in which the hulls are peeled from sesame seeds.
• A wet dehulling process has been developed for easy removal of the husk from the sesame seeds.
• After hulling, the soaking process is carried out in the next stage.
• Drying by mechanized process: The process uses a single chamber fluid bed dryer.
• Drying is also carried out manually by spreading in sunlight for 3-4 days.

• Visible defects in seeds: Diseased grains which are rotted by fungi, bacteria, or other organisms of decay Insect/pest
• Damaged grains; Grains that have been damaged by any insect or animal pest
• The use of fertilization, pesticides, and preservation
• Facility hygiene of the cleaning and dehulling facilities
• Texture (Moist or dry)
• Coloration

Each destination country has different requirements when importing sesame seeds from Nigeria. However, the most common certificates and requirements are as follows:

A phytosanitary certificate is needed to prove that specified phytosanitary import requirements are met.

Agrochemical residues should be kept below the mandated levels. Many countries would require a fumigation certificate.

Seeds could be tested for mycotoxins and rejected at destination ports if traces of mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, above certain levels are detected.

South Sudan

• African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The agreement includes the United States of America, granting duty-free quota-free access to Kenya when exporting into the US market.
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement creates a single continental market for goods and services for its members.

Tanzania

• Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
• Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
• African Union agreements (e.g., Phyto-Sanitary Convention for Africa of 1967)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992
• The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)
• New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
• Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
• Single Customs Territory for East African Community (EAC)
• African Growth Opportunity Act
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite
• EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreements
• The EAC Customs Union Protocol
• The Common Market Protocol
• Trade and Investment Framework Agreements

Ethiopia

• African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The agreement includes the United States of America, granting duty-free quota-free access to Ethiopia when exporting into the US market.
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The agreement includes a free trade area in which no tariffs are levied on goods from its members.
• African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) creates a single continental market for goods and services for its member states.

Myanmar [Burma]

• ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA)
• ASEAN-China Free Trade Area was established on 1-1-2004. Under this agreement, Myanmar will reduce tariff rates in the year 2010,2015,2018,2020.
• ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Area (AJFTA)
• ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Area was put into effect on 1-12-2008. Under this agreement, Myanmar will need to reduce tariff rates in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026.
• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)
• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area was put into effect on 1-1-2010. Under this agreement, Myanmar will need to reduce tariff rates in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021.

India

• Sesame Seeds whole or broken, of seeds quality under HS code 12074010 treated at 0% export tariff
• Sesame Seeds whole or broken, of others category under HS code 12074090 treated at 0% export tariff

Nigeria

• African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA): May 2000 - 2025 Duty-free access for agricultural products to the USA
• Ecowas Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS): Total exemption from import duties and taxes to all member states

In order for a company to export sesame seeds, it must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Destination countries have different requirements for sesame seed imports. To export sesame seeds from Nigeria, a phytosanitary certificate is needed. 

Other important certificates include fumigation and inspection certificates. 

The world’s annual average of producing sesame seeds between 2004-2018 was 6M MT (metric tons). For five years (2014-2018), the annual growth rate is +0.1%, for three years (2016-2018) is +0.5%, and for one year is +4.1%. Sudan is the largest producer contributing about 16.3% of the global production. Followed by Myanmar [Burma] (12.8%), India (12.4%), and Nigeria (9.5%).

There are 4 (four) factors affecting the price of sesame seed in the market:

• Cultivation type: Hulled seeds are more priced than unhulled seeds.
• Oil content: The more oil content, the higher price of a sesame seed.
• Coloration: White is the most sought after and has a higher price
• Damaged grains: Grains that have been damaged by any insect or animal pest reduce the seeds’ cost.