Market
Sesame seed (gergelim) is an export-oriented cash crop in Mozambique, produced largely by smallholder/family-sector farmers across multiple northern and central provinces. Commercialization is mostly as raw grain with limited domestic value addition, although in-country cleaning/processing capacity has been established (e.g., Nacala district in Nampula). UN Comtrade data (via WITS) indicates Mozambique is among the larger global exporters of sesame seeds (HS 120740) and that China is a major destination market. Market access is highly sensitive to phytosanitary certification credibility and document integrity, given prior government actions linked to irregular and falsified certificates for sesame exports.
Market RoleMajor producer and exporter
Domestic RoleCash crop for smallholders; marketed primarily as grain with limited value addition
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighPhytosanitary certificate credibility is a deal-breaker risk: Mozambique has previously suspended phytosanitary certificates/licences for plant-origin exports following importer notifications and findings of falsified/irregular certificates, including for sesame.Use official digital issuance channels where available (SELICEF/ePhyto), run pre-shipment document authenticity checks, and align exporter SOPs to the national phytosanitary inspection/quarantine regulation requirements.
Security HighConflict and displacement in northern provinces (including Cabo Delgado, a major sesame-producing province) can disrupt farming activity, aggregation, and transport, creating acute supply and delivery risk.Diversify sourcing across multiple producing provinces, map alternate aggregation corridors, and build contingency lead times around periods of heightened insecurity.
Food Safety MediumSesame seed is a low-moisture food that can carry Salmonella contamination; importing markets may apply strict hygiene expectations and incident-driven scrutiny to sesame and sesame-based products.Implement Codex-aligned hygienic practice for low-moisture foods (environmental monitoring, dry sanitation, segregation of raw/finished areas) and verify supplier preventive controls with periodic third-party testing.
Logistics MediumFlooding and related road disruptions can render key routes impassable and delay inland-to-port movements, increasing the risk of missed vessel cut-offs and demurrage for export containers.Pre-position stocks at aggregation/port-proximate warehouses during the rainy season and contract transport with redundancy (multiple carriers/routes).
Sustainability- Climate shocks (flooding, drought, and cyclones) can disrupt production and internal transport, affecting the reliability of export supply from producing provinces.
Labor & Social- Sesame value-chain constraints in northern Mozambique include gender and youth participation barriers (e.g., limited decision-making power over income and limited information dissemination to women), which can affect supplier development and audit outcomes.
FAQ
Which provinces are highlighted as the main sesame-producing areas in Mozambique?ICM identifies the main sesame-producing provinces as Cabo Delgado, Niassa, Nampula, Zambézia, Tete, Manica, and Sofala.
Which Mozambican authority is responsible for phytosanitary certification for sesame exports?Mozambique’s plant health authority under the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries is mandated to carry out phytosanitary inspection and issue phytosanitary certificates for exports under the plant quarantine and inspection regulation framework (including Decree no. 5/2009).
Is China an important export market for Mozambique sesame seed?Yes. UN Comtrade data accessed via WITS shows Mozambique among the top exporters supplying sesame seeds (HS 120740) to China in 2024.