Pakistan is a top-ten global exporter of sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum). The South Punjab (Multan, Muzaffargarh) and Sindh (Nawabshah, Sanghar) belts produce white, brown and black sesame varieties across rabi and kharif seasons. Pakistani sesame is well-established with buyers in China, Korea, Turkey, the GCC and the EU — particularly for hulled and natural white grades at 99.95% purity.
This guide covers the grade structure, FFA and moisture specs, and what Chinese and Korean buyers look for when they spec out a Pakistan-origin sesame container.
White, brown & black commercial varieties
- Natural white sesame — the staple. 99.95% purity achievable with modern gravity-cleaning lines.
- Natural brown sesame — less polished, lower labour cost, popular in bakery and confectionery end use.
- Black sesame — smaller acreage but high value. Korean, Japanese and Chinese health-food buyers pay 30–60% premium over white.
- Hulled sesame — natural white after mechanical or water hulling. Lighter colour, used for bakery toppings, tahini, confectionery.
Purity tiers
| Grade | Purity | Admixture | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | 99.95% | ≤ 0.05% | Korea, Japan, EU tahini makers |
| Standard | 99.5% | ≤ 0.5% | China bakery / confectionery |
| Commercial | 99% | ≤ 1% | Turkey, GCC bulk buyers, onward re-cleaners |
FFA, moisture & oil content
- Moisture: ≤ 7% (ideal 5–6%)
- Oil content: 48–52% (white), 44–48% (brown / black)
- FFA (free fatty acid) as oleic: ≤ 2.0% (premium), ≤ 3.0% (standard)
- Aflatoxin B1 / total: EU ≤ 2 / 4 µg/kg
- Salmonella: absent in 25 g
- Sudan dye residues: negative (EU requirement post-2005 incident)
Hulled vs. natural economics
A 25 MT container of natural white sesame at USD 1,900 / MT costs roughly USD 47,500 FOB. The same seed hulled adds approximately USD 250–400 / MT of hulling cost — but sells to EU / US buyers at USD 2,500–2,900 / MT. The hulling margin pays when you have a committed end-buyer; on open spec, natural export is the safer play.
Buyer markets for Pakistani sesame
- China — largest volume buyer. Natural white and brown, bulk.
- Korea — premium black and white, smaller volume but higher margin.
- Turkey — simit and halva industry, natural and hulled.
- GCC — tahini manufacturers in KSA and UAE, hulled and natural white.
- EU (Netherlands, Germany, Greece) — premium 99.95%, full lab pack, Sudan-dye negative.
- North America — hulled white for bakery toppings and tahini.
Container loading & FOB pricing
| Packaging | 20ft FCL | 40ft HC |
|---|---|---|
| 25 kg PP woven bags | 26–27 MT | 27–28 MT |
| 50 kg jute bags | 25–26 MT | 26 MT |
| 1 MT jumbo bag | 24–26 MT | 26–27 MT |
Indicative 2026 FOB Karachi per MT:
- Natural white 99%: USD 1,700–2,000 / MT
- Natural white 99.95%: USD 2,000–2,400 / MT
- Natural brown: USD 1,500–1,800 / MT
- Natural black: USD 2,600–3,400 / MT
- Hulled white (bakery / tahini): USD 2,500–2,900 / MT
Need a sesame seed container quote?
Specify variety (white / brown / black / hulled), purity target (99% / 99.5% / 99.95%) and destination — our trade desk quotes within 24 hours.
Related product page
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