Türkiye's Shift to Alternative Sesame Seed Markets in 2023

Sesame Seed

Nigeria

Published Jan 19, 2024

Ranked as the second-largest global importer of sesame seed in 2022, Türkiye focuses its imports on hulled sesame seeds, particularly for tahini production. Sesame seed imports in Türkiye exhibited a notable 11.7% YoY increase, reaching 74,583 mt from Jan–23 to Oct-23. Despite being the third-largest exporter of sesame seeds to Türkiye in 2022, Nigeria encountered challenges in 2023, leading to a significant 76% YoY decline in Turkish imports from Nigeria, totaling 6,111 mt from Jan-23 to Oct-23. Restricting direct imports of Nigerian-origin sesame in 2023 due to Salmonella concerns, Türkiye turned to to alternative markets. In response, Türkiye diversified its sesame seed imports in 2023, witnessing substantial increases from alternative-producing markets such as Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Brazil. Manufacturers prefer cost-effective, cleaner, and uncontaminated sesame from these countries over Nigerian sesame. It is anticipated that Türkiye will have a sustained import trend in 2024, given the higher imports in 2023, coupled with the advantages of shorter transit times and a rise in local sesame buyers. Exporters must prioritize quality assurance measures, ensuring product safety and authenticity in alignment with Türkiye's stringent regulatory requirements.

Türkiye is the world's second-largest importer of sesame seed, registering an import value of USD 291.8 million in 2022, marking a 3.5% year-on-year (YoY) increase from the previous year's USD 284.8 million. The significance of sesame seeds in Turkish cuisine, deeply embedded in Türkiye’s culinary tradition, contributes to its role as crucial importers. Sesame seeds are versatile, utilized in various forms such as whole seeds, oils, and pastes like tahini, contributing to their widespread appeal.

Türkiye's imports focus on hulled sesame seeds, primarily used in tahini production. The country boasts a tahini production facility in Mersin, in the southern part of Türkiye. Tahini caters to both domestic consumption and export markets. The global hummus market, closely tied to tahini production, was valued at approximately USD 2,875.21 million in 2022, with a projected growth to USD 4,258.01 million by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The widespread popularity of sesame seeds in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines further propels the demand for sesame seeds.

Alternative Sourcing for Sesame Seed Imports in Türkiye

Despite being the third-largest exporter of sesame seeds to Türkiye in 2022, Nigeria faced challenges in 2023. Turkish imports from Nigeria decreased by 76% YoY to 6,111 metric tons (mt) from Jan-23 to Oct-23. Türkiye restricted direct imports of Nigerian-origin sesame in 2023 due to Salmonella concerns. In Mar-23, Türkiye detected Salmonella in sesame seeds from Nigeria, prompting the former to diversify its sourcing strategy by exploring alternative markets.

Figure 1. Top Exporters of Sesame Seed to Türkiye

Consequently, Türkiye increased sesame seed imports from alternative-producing markets in 2023, with notable surges from Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Brazil. From Jan-23 to Oct-23, import quantities from Pakistan rose by 951% YoY to 10,192 mt, from Ethiopia by 335% YoY to 9,953 mt, and from Brazil by 198.24% YoY to 26,324 mt. Manufacturers prefer cost-effective, cleaner, and uncontaminated sesame from these countries over Nigerian sesame. The overall imports of sesame seed in Türkiye increased by 11.7% YoY to 74,583 mt from Jan-23 to Oct-23.

The surge in imports has solidified Türkiye's role as a key player in the global sesame seed import market. Given the higher imports in 2023, coupled with the advantages of shorter transit times and a rise in local sesame buyers, Tridge expects that Türkiye will maintain an upward import trend in 2024. Nonetheless, exporters are advised to prioritize rigorous quality assurance measures to ensure product safety and authenticity, aligning with Türkiye's stringent regulatory requirements. This commitment aligns with Türkiye's strict regulatory standards, particularly in response to the rejection of Nigeria's sesame imports and the increased emphasis on stringent quality assurance and compliance measures.