Sesame Market: Turkish Buying Slows as Global Prices Stay Under Pressure

International sesame prices remain under pressure, with Turkey’s earlier buying surge now giving way to signs of demand fatigue and more cautious purchasing strategies. After several months of aggressive coverage at sharply lower prices, Turkish importers appear increasingly well-stocked, reducing incremental demand and limiting upside for origin prices in the near term.

Prices

Turkey’s average sesame import price during January–May 2026 fell by 27% year on year to around $1,204/t, while import volumes rose 13% to 126,005 t over the same period. Converted to euro terms, this places Turkish import costs materially below prior-year levels and broadly in line with today’s low global offer environment.

Recent offers from key origins confirm a soft tone: Indian natural and hulled sesame is indicated roughly in a EUR 1.20–1.70/kg FOB range, while Egyptian natural sesame trades slightly higher for golden types. The narrow but consistent week-on-week erosion in offer levels signals that sellers are still competing for demand rather than defending floors.

Supply & Demand

The first five months of 2026 saw Turkey increase sesame imports to 126,005 t from 111,260 t a year earlier, taking advantage of cheaper prices to secure forward coverage. However, May imports dropped to 22,904 t, down 13% from May 2025, suggesting that stock levels and more conservative consumption forecasts have started to curb fresh buying.

The widening gap between import volume and import value highlights how lower international prices reshaped Turkey’s purchasing strategy. Buyers were able to buy more volume while total spending fell 17% year on year to about $151.74 million, indicating comfortable inventories and reducing the urgency for additional nearby purchases.

Fundamentals

The sharp fall in Turkey’s average import cost per tonne – from around $1,646/t to $1,204/t – underlines an oversupplied global sesame complex with limited demand-side tension. In May alone, the average import price was $1,223/t, down 29% from $1,720/t a year earlier, reinforcing the depth of the current price correction.

With Turkish buyers now better covered, incremental demand from one of the world’s key import hubs is likely to be more selective and price-sensitive in the coming months. This tilts the fundamental balance towards continued buyer’s-market conditions unless weather or crop issues emerge in major origins to materially alter supply expectations.

Outlook & Trading Strategy

Given the combination of lower global prices, strong earlier Turkish imports and the visible slowdown in May arrivals, the near-term bias for sesame remains mildly bearish to sideways. Any price recovery is likely to be capped as long as Turkish importers work down existing stocks and other major buyers take advantage of the soft market to negotiate aggressively.

• Importers/Consumers: Maintain a staggered buying strategy, using current weakness to extend coverage selectively, but avoid overstocking given the absence of immediate bullish catalysts.
• Exporters/Origin Sellers: Prioritise competitive pricing and flexible shipment terms to secure sales into Turkey and alternative markets, as buyers will resist attempts to lift offers without clear fundamental justification.
• Traders: Focus on short-term, range-bound strategies, watching closely for any supply-side weather disruptions in key producing regions that could signal a floor and potential rebound.

Short-Term Price Indication (3 days)

Across key origins, sesame prices in EUR are expected to remain broadly stable with a slight downside bias over the next three days, reflecting comfortable stocks and still-cautious Turkish demand. Minor day-to-day fluctuations are likely to stay within a narrow range as the market waits for clearer signals from upcoming crop and demand developments.