By Uzma Sahar 
Pakistan has emerged as a rising force in the global sesame trade, especially with China, where exports surged more than 300% in the first half of 2025, according to new data released by Ghulam Qadir, the Trade and Investment Counsellor at Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing.
Between January and June 2025, the country shipped 46,029,511 kilograms of sesame seeds to China, bringing in a total revenue of $57.44 million. This is a notable jump from the 8.6 million kg and $14.39 million recorded during the same period in 2024.
A major reason behind the spike is the drop in the average per-kilo export price—from $1.67 in H1 2024 to $1.24 in H1 2025—enabling Pakistan to undercut African suppliers and gain market traction.
Pakistan has now moved into the top four sesame exporters to China, following Niger, Togo, and Ethiopia. These countries led the market in total volume, but Pakistan’s cost-efficiency and rising output made it highly competitive.
Experts point out that this momentum is also due to government-backed trade facilitation and an uptick in domestic sesame cultivation, with more farmers recognizing the crop’s profitability in international markets.
Industry insiders suggest the upward trend can be sustained through continued focus on quality control, infrastructure improvement, and long-term trade partnerships with Chinese buyers. The growth story of sesame could pave the way for broader agricultural export diversification for Pakistan in the years ahead.