Pakistan’s sesame export to China surpasses $290 million mark in 2023

BEIJING: Pakistan’s export of sesame seeds to China registered a growth, surging 126.29% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis surpassing $290 million from January to December last year, said Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor of the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.

According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), China imported 166,682.987 tonnes of sesame seeds from Pakistan in 2023. This represents an increase of 96.13% by volume, amounting to $290.66 million, compared to 84,985.321 tonnes worth $128.44 million in 2022.

Qadir explained that during 2023, Pakistan’s exports to China exceeded $3.459 billion, an increase of 1.4% on a YoY basis. He also mentioned that as per GACC data, in 2023, China imported 912,814.577 tonnes of sesame seeds worth approximately $1.52 billion from around the world. The African country, Niger, with 192,529.528 tonnes worth $309.51 million, remained the top sesame seed exporter to China for the third consecutive year, followed by Pakistan with $290.66 million and Tanzania with $239.83 million.

In 2023, Pakistan contributed to around 19% of the total sesame seed exports to China from January to December.