Sesame prices edge higher in India while Egypt holds steady

Sesame prices are firming in India while Egyptian values remain broadly stable, leaving buyers in a mildly bullish but still competitive global market. Slight upticks in Indian FOB offers contrast with flat Egyptian quotes, with weather benign in both regions and macro drivers like export demand and policy signals becoming more important than near‑term crop risks. Indian sesame trades in a narrow upward band on the back of steady domestic and export demand, with exporters reporting active inquiries and resilient volumes, particularly from Gulf and Asian buyers. In Egypt, export statistics for oilseeds confirm that outbound flows remain robust, but there is no clear sign yet of a fresh price spike. Weather in both New Delhi and Cairo is seasonally hot but stable, so attention in the next few days will remain on trade flows, freight and currency, not on weather‑driven supply shocks.

Prices & Spreads

All prices below are approximate and expressed in EUR/kg using current FX benchmarks.

• India, New Delhi FOB hulled 99.95–99.98%: about €1.24–1.30/kg, up ~1–2% versus mid‑May.
• India, New Delhi FOB natural 99–99.95%: around €1.05–1.20/kg, also slightly higher over the month.
• India, black sesame (regular to super Z): roughly €1.80–2.00/kg, recovering from earlier dips as export buying improves.
• Egypt, Cairo FOB natural white 99%: near €1.35–1.40/kg, broadly unchanged over the last two weeks.
• Egypt, Cairo FOB golden 99.5%: close to €1.80–1.85/kg, flat and still carrying a quality premium.

Domestic Indian mandi prices for sesamum are broadly aligned with this firmer tone, with average spot levels trending higher in late May, reinforcing the modest upward bias in export offers.

Supply, Demand & Trade Flows

Indian export sentiment for sesame remains constructive. Recent exporter commentary highlights sesame together with a handful of other agri products as among the most consistently traded and scalable commodities for 2026, underpinned by diversified demand from Gulf, EU and Southeast Asian buyers. This helps absorb available stocks despite earlier global talk of oversupply.

Egypt’s role as a regional oilseed and sesame supplier into Mediterranean markets continues to expand, with official export statistics for oilseeds to EU partners still on an upward multi‑year trend. However, recent price data suggest exporters are prioritising volume and market share over aggressive price rises, leading to today’s broadly stable FO B quotations.

Globally, sesame remains in a buyer‑tilted environment after strong production in several origins, but Indian and East African benchmarks indicate that the sharpest price declines are behind us and that trade is normalising at lower but more stable levels. This backdrop explains why Indian quotes can edge up slightly even as buyers continue to negotiate hard on freight and quality spreads.

Fundamentals & Policy Drivers

On the supply side, India is moving into the kharif planning window. The government has just raised minimum support prices for key kharif crops, particularly oilseeds, signalling a continued policy push toward domestic oilseed production. While sesame is a minor oilseed compared with soybean or groundnut, this broader oilseed‑friendly stance supports farmer interest in sesamum, especially in marginal areas.

Latest sowing progress data for the current season indicate that sesamum area is slightly ahead of last year at this very early stage, even though total oilseed acreage remains close to normal. Combined with healthy export demand signals for sesame out of South India and Gujarat, particularly toward Gulf outlets, this suggests that supply for the next marketing year should be adequate unless weather turns significantly adverse.

For Egypt, multi‑year data show sesame exports rising steadily since 2020, supported by investments in processing and logistics. With no fresh policy shocks or logistical disruptions reported in the last few days, the near‑term fundamental picture for Egyptian sesame is stable, keeping its FOB offers competitive against Indian and African origins.

Weather Outlook: EG & IN

Weather in New Delhi over the next three days (31 May–2 June) is forecast to remain very hot and mostly dry, with daytime highs climbing from around 32°C to 37°C and warm nights near 24–28°C. This is typical pre‑monsoon heat and does not yet pose unusual risk to sesame, though early land preparation may be delayed during the hottest hours of the day.

Cairo will also see stable, seasonally hot weather with hazy sunshine and highs between 34–37°C. For Egyptian sesame, much of which is cultivated outside the immediate urban area, these conditions are broadly supportive and free from acute stress.

Looking slightly beyond the three‑day window, Indian officials continue to warn about a potentially below‑normal southwest monsoon due to El Niño, which could become a meaningful bullish driver for sesame later in the kharif season if rainfall deficits materialise in major producing belts.

Short-Term Price Outlook (3 Days)

• India, New Delhi FOB sesame: Mild upside bias. Strong enquiry lists and firmer domestic spot levels suggest further small increases of €0.01–0.02/kg are possible, especially for higher‑purity hulled and black grades.
• Egypt, Cairo FOB sesame: Mostly stable. Adequate stocks and steady export demand imply a sideways market, with quotes likely to hold within a tight €0.02/kg band around current levels.

Trading Recommendations

• Buyers (EU, MENA, Asia): Consider covering near‑term needs in India over the next few days before monsoon uncertainty and any freight volatility can translate into wider offer increases, particularly for premium hulled and black qualities.
• Buyers needing price stability: Egypt offers relatively flat and predictable pricing; splitting volumes between Egypt and India can diversify origin risk and quality exposure.
• Origin sellers in India: With sentiment mildly bullish and policy support for oilseeds, use current firmness to scale up forward sales selectively, but avoid over‑committing ahead of clearer monsoon signals.

3‑day directional view: India FOB sesame – slightly firmer; Egypt FOB sesame – stable to marginally firmer on follow‑through buying.