Sesame prices ease from recent highs as India and Egypt stay well supplied

International sesame seed prices are trading slightly softer into mid-March 2026 as fresh offers from India and stable availability from Egypt meet only moderate spot demand from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Hulled and EU-grade sesame FOB New Delhi have edged down by around 1–2% over the past week, while Egyptian natural and golden sesame FOB Alexandria/Cairo have also corrected marginally from early-March levels. Import appetite in the EU has been subdued after a 17% year-on-year decline in sesame seed imports in 2025, with buyers remaining cautious due to tighter food safety checks and comfortable pipeline stocks. At the same time, India and other major origins continue to benefit from generally firm structural demand tied to healthy, vegan and convenience foods, which is preventing any sharp downside break. In the short term, unusually hot and dry conditions across north India point to weather risks for the coming kharif planting window, but these have not yet translated into concrete supply losses. In Egypt, production remains relatively small in global terms but is expanding gradually, supported by government efforts to raise oilseed cultivation and by resilient export flows into Europe and regional markets. Against this backdrop, the sesame complex is moving into a consolidation phase: prices are drifting lower from recent peaks but remain historically elevated, with a broadly neutral to slightly soft bias for the next few days. Market participants are advised to use this window to fine-tune coverage and pricing strategies rather than to expect sharp directional moves.

📈 Prices & Market Snapshot

Spot offers (converted to EUR, indicative FX 1 USD = 0.92 EUR)

The following table summarizes the latest FOB offers (14 March 2026 unless noted) for key sesame types in India and Egypt, converted from the provided USD-equivalent levels to EUR/kg for comparability. Where web sources indicate typical export price ranges, these are used to cross-check the plausibility of the internal price curve.

Origin	Location	Type / Grade	Purity	Organic	Delivery	Latest price (EUR/kg, FOB)	Weekly change (EUR/kg)	Weekly change (%)	Market sentiment
India	New Delhi	Hulled, 99.90%	99.90%	No	FOB	≈ 1.56	-0.03	-1.9%	Soft, offers under mild pressure
India	New Delhi	Hulled, EU-Grade	99.98%	No	FOB	≈ 1.39	-0.02	-1.3%	Stable to slightly weak
India	New Delhi	Hulled, EU-Grade	99.97%	No	FOB	≈ 1.37	-0.02	-1.3%	Stable to slightly weak
India	New Delhi	Natural, sortex	99.95%	Yes	FOB	≈ 1.74	-0.03	-1.6%	Firm but easing
India	New Delhi	Natural	99.95%	No	FOB	≈ 1.03	-0.02	-1.7%	Soft
India	New Delhi	Regular black	99.90%	No	FOB	≈ 2.00	+0.04	+1.9%	Firm, niche demand
India	New Delhi	Semi Z black	99.95%	No	FOB	≈ 2.37	-0.04	-1.5%	Balanced
India	New Delhi	Super Z black	99.95%	No	FOB	≈ 2.47	-0.06	-2.2%	Slight correction after recent highs
Egypt	Cairo	Natural	99%	No	FOB	≈ 1.45	-0.03	-2.0%	Soft but underpinned by export interest
Egypt	Cairo	Natural, golden	99.5%	No	FOB	≈ 1.91	-0.03	-1.4%	Firm premium vs. natural

Note: EUR levels are approximate, based on the supplied USD/kg quotes and rounded to the nearest cent for clarity. Internal week-on-week changes are computed from the provided time series for 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 6 Mar and 14 Mar 2026.

🌍 Supply, Demand & Trade Flows

• Global context: World sesame production remains concentrated in Sudan, India and Myanmar, which together account for roughly 44% of global output. This underpins ample export availability from Asia and East Africa despite localized weather issues.
• India: India is one of the top sesame exporters globally, shipping significant volumes to China, the Middle East and Europe. Recent trade data show continued growth in exports to Egypt as that country diversifies away from Sudanese origins. Despite some cost pressure, Indian sesame export prices have been relatively stable into late 2025 and early 2026.
• Egypt: Egypt’s sesame production is modest in global terms—around 48,000 tonnes in 2022—but has been trending up, with government plans to expand oilseed and sesame acreage to reduce import dependence and increase exports. Export volumes have grown steadily over the past decade and reached over 3,200 tonnes in 2025, according to recent Japanese trade data.
• EU demand: European demand for sesame is structurally firm, driven by healthy and plant-based diets, but 2025 imports fell around 17% year-on-year as end-users dealt with tighter salmonella controls and high stocks. This has contributed to a slightly softer tone in FOB offers from India and Egypt in Q1 2026.
• Egypt–EU link: The EU sources a growing share of its sesame from Egypt alongside East African origins, attracted by proximity and established spice and herb supply chains. This supports a quality and freight premium on Egyptian golden sesame relative to Indian natural grades.

📊 Fundamentals & External Drivers

• Price competitiveness vs. world market: Hulled 99.98% FOB India is currently offered internally around the equivalent of EUR 1.39/kg (~USD 1.51/kg). This is slightly below the late-2025 benchmark of about USD 1,620/mt (~USD 1.62/kg) reported for similar grades, highlighting some mild price softening and improved competitiveness.
• Egypt export parity: The average Egyptian sesame export price in 2024 was about USD 2,339/mt (~EUR 2.15/kg), with a small year-on-year increase. Current internal golden sesame offers around EUR 1.91/kg FOB Cairo therefore sit modestly below this average, suggesting limited near-term upside unless demand strengthens.
• Macro & logistics: Egypt’s overall agricultural exports hit a record USD 11.5 billion in 2025, supported by policy efforts to boost high-value crops. This implies robust logistics and port capacity, reducing risk premia on FOB sesame offers. In India, broader agri exports (e.g., rice) are facing disruptions from regional conflicts and shipping issues, but sesame flows remain relatively less affected for now.
• Speculative and structural demand: No major speculative positioning data are available specifically for sesame, but the broader oilseed complex remains supported by demand for healthy oils and snack ingredients. This underpins a floor under prices even as nearby demand cools.

🌦 Weather Outlook (EG & IN focus)

India – New Delhi / Northern plains (March 16–18, 2026)

• Recent reports show that north India, including Delhi, is experiencing an unusually early onset of summer, with maximum temperatures around 35°C—5–7°C above normal—and a marked rainfall deficit (about 81% below average in February 2026).
• Typical March climate in Delhi is already warm and dry, with hot semi-arid to humid subtropical conditions and limited precipitation.
• Price impact: In the very short term (next 3 days), this has limited direct impact because current offers reflect stocks from the last crop. However, persistent heat and moisture stress into April–May could raise concerns over soil moisture ahead of the next sesame planting season, introducing a mild weather risk premium into forward pricing.

Egypt – Upper Egypt / Aswan region (March 16–18, 2026)

• Weather forecasts for Aswan indicate hot and very dry conditions, with daytime temperatures around 31–32°C, slightly above historical averages, under clear skies and negligible rainfall.
• The region is characterized by extremely low humidity and almost year-round sunshine, which generally favours sesame cultivation as long as irrigation water is secure.
• Price impact: Over the next 3 days, stable, predictable weather means no acute supply threat from Egypt. This supports the current gentle downside in FOB prices, as buyers see little need to price in weather risk premia in the immediate term.

📆 3-Day Regional Price Forecast (EUR/kg, FOB)

Forecast horizon: 16–18 March 2026. Biases are short-term only and primarily driven by current offer behaviour, nearby demand and weather stability. All levels are indicative.

Region	Location	Product	Grade	Current level (EUR/kg, FOB)	3-day forecast (EUR/kg, FOB)	Bias
IN	New Delhi	Sesame seeds	Hulled, 99.90%	≈ 1.56	1.54 – 1.57	Slightly soft; sellers may concede small discounts on volume deals
IN	New Delhi	Sesame seeds	Hulled, EU-Grade 99.98%	≈ 1.39	1.38 – 1.40	Mostly sideways; competitive vs. alternative origins
IN	New Delhi	Sesame seeds	Natural, 99.95%	≈ 1.03	1.02 – 1.04	Soft; ample supply and moderate demand
EG	Cairo	Sesame seeds	Natural, 99%	≈ 1.45	1.44 – 1.47	Sideways to slightly soft; stable weather, firm but not aggressive demand
EG	Cairo	Sesame seeds	Natural, golden 99.5%	≈ 1.91	1.90 – 1.93	Sideways; quality premium likely maintained

📌 Trading Outlook & Recommendations

• Short-term buyers (EU, MENA):
  • Use the current mild softness in Indian hulled and EU-grade offers to extend coverage for Q2 2026, particularly if you require high-purity lots.
  • Time purchases over the next 3–7 days rather than rushing in; offer competition among Indian exporters remains healthy.
• Importers focused on Egypt:
  • Egyptian golden sesame continues to command a premium but is now trading slightly below its 2024 export average in EUR terms; this offers a reasonable entry point for quality-sensitive applications.
  • Weather and policy conditions look benign in the immediate term, so no urgent need to chase prices higher.
• Origin sellers (India & Egypt):
  • Maintain price discipline; while EU demand is softer, structural global demand and still-elevated world prices justify holding close to current indications.
  • Monitor any escalation in regional conflicts or freight disruptions that could quickly tighten nearby availability and justify a risk premium.
• Risk factors to watch (beyond 3 days):
  • Extension of hotter-than-normal conditions into the pre-monsoon period in India, which could hamper sesame planting.
  • Changes in EU food safety regulations or inspection intensity that might again reshape origin preferences and premiums.