Sesame Seeds Exporter from India
Hulled and natural sesame — 99.95% purity grades, machine-cleaned and sortex-processed.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports Indian sesame seeds — hulled (white), natural white and black — at purity grades up to 99.95%, machine-cleaned and sortex-sorted, packed in 25–50kg bags. India became the world's largest sesame seed exporter in 2023. China, the USA and Japan are among the leading destination markets, each buying for different end uses. MOQ one 20ft container.
Indian sesame seeds for export
India became the world's largest sesame seed exporter in 2023, supplying hulled and natural seed into three quite distinct demand streams: East Asian food manufacturing, Western bakery and health-food channels, and oil crushing.
We supply hulled (dehulled white), natural white and natural black sesame at purity grades up to 99.95%, machine-cleaned, sortex-sorted and metal-detected, from Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
Hulled or natural — which do you need?
This is the first question to settle, because the two are different products at different prices:
- Hulled sesame has the seed coat mechanically removed. Whiter, softer, used in bakery toppings, confectionery and tahini. Commands a premium. Shorter shelf life — the exposed oil oxidises faster, so storage temperature matters more.
- Natural sesame retains the coat. Preferred for oil crushing (better yield economics) and for applications where the coat's flavour and mineral content are wanted.
- Natural black sesame is a separate market again, mostly East Asian confectionery and culinary use.
How purity grades work
Purity is the percentage of clean, sound sesame in the lot after cleaning — 99%, 99.5% and 99.95% are the standard export tiers. Getting to 99.95% requires sortex colour-sorting and tighter cleaning, which costs more. Japanese and European food buyers typically want 99.95%; crushers are often content with 99%. Paying for 99.95% when you're going to crush it is money spent on a specification you won't use.
Testing matters more on sesame than most products
Sesame has been the subject of significant residue and contamination controls in the EU, Japan and Korea in recent years. For those destinations, pre-shipment aflatoxin and pesticide residue testing is strongly advisable — a rejection at destination on a container of sesame is an expensive lesson. We arrange testing on request; tell us your destination market early so the right panel is used. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Which markets buy Indian sesame?
China, the United States and Japan are the most frequently cited destination markets, each serving a different end use. We'd note openly that the available data for sesame is weaker than for our other products — the source frames values by end use rather than as a clean customs breakdown, and published volume figures vary widely between sources. The table below gives what we found, with those caveats stated rather than hidden.
Sesame export pricing
Sesame prices move with Indian harvest size, competing supply from African origins (Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania), and demand from Chinese and Japanese buyers. Hulled carries a processing premium over natural. Send your type, purity grade, quantity and destination port for a current quote.
Key facts
- Types: hulled white, natural white, natural black
- HS code: 1207.40 (sesamum seeds)
- Purity grades: 99%, 99.5%, 99.95%
- Oil content 48–52% typical; moisture ≤5–6%; FFA ≤2%
- Packed 25/50 kg bags or jumbo bags; ~18–20 MT per 20ft
- India became the world's largest sesame exporter in 2023
- Aflatoxin/residue testing advised for Japan, EU and Korea
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Sesame Seeds specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Types | Hulled (dehulled white), natural white, natural black, mixed |
| Purity | 99%, 99.5%, 99.95% (buyer-specified) |
| Moisture | ≤ 5–6% |
| Oil content | 48–52% typical (natural); relevant for crushing buyers |
| FFA (free fatty acid) | ≤ 2% |
| Admixture | ≤ 0.05–1%, per purity grade |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 1–2% typical |
| Processing | Machine-cleaned, sortex (colour-sorted), metal-detected |
| Aflatoxin / pesticide residue | Within destination-market limits; testing on request (important for Japan, EU and Korea) |
Typical specs — final specifications as per contract. Tell us your required grade when you request a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Packaging & container loading
| Detail | Options |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 25 kg and 50 kg PP/paper bags; 1 MT jumbo bags; vacuum packing on request for hulled sesame |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Approx. 18–20 MT in a 20ft container |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 24–26 MT in a 40ft container |
| Shelf life & storage | 12–18 months in cool, dry storage; hulled sesame is more prone to rancidity than natural and should be stored cooler and used sooner |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the sesame seeds container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for sesame seeds from India, by month:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Availability shifts year to year with weather and growing conditions — ask for current availability before planning a shipment window.
Where India exports sesame seeds (hulled / natural)
India's top destination markets for sesame seeds (hulled / natural) (HS 1207 40 (sesamum seeds)), 2024-25 (volume); 2024 (value figures, product-use framed rather than plain country totals):
| Destination country | Export value (USD) |
|---|---|
| China | $52,500,000 |
| United States | $37,500,000 |
| Japan | $22,500,000 |
Source: Mixed trade-press sources (Mundus Agri / IndexBox market reports) — LOWER CONFIDENCE, see notes — view source. Data year: 2024-25 (volume); 2024 (value figures, product-use framed rather than plain country totals). Retrieved: 2026-09-17.
Notes on this data
LOW CONFIDENCE — flagged for follow-up before use in a priced blog post. Export volume for FY2024-25 was reported as a wide, inconsistent range (208,000 to 330,000 MT) across sources, which is too imprecise to publish as a headline number. The three country values (China $52.5M 'for desserts', US $37.5M 'for supplements', Japan $22.5M 'for seasonings') come from a blog-style market report that frames them by end-use rather than as a clean customs-data country breakdown, and states these three markets capture '75% of shipments' without defining the base. Verified fact: India became the world's largest sesame-seed exporter in 2023 (multiple corroborating sources). Recommend re-querying APEDA AgriExchange or DGCI&S TradeStat directly for a cleaner FY2024-25 country-value table before this anchors a blog post.
Indian sourcing regions
Gujarat is India's largest sesame-producing state, with West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu contributing significant volume. Processing and hulling units cluster in Gujarat (Unjha, Rajkot) and Rajasthan. Kharif harvest arrives October–December; rabi/summer crop extends availability.
Export documentation
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Fumigation certificate
- Certificate of analysis — purity, moisture, FFA, oil content
- Aflatoxin and pesticide residue test reports (commonly required for Japan, EU, Korea)
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Get a quote for Sesame Seeds
Tell us your specs — get a quote within 24 business hours.
Sesame Seeds export FAQs
Natural sesame retains its seed coat; hulled sesame has had the coat mechanically removed, leaving a whiter, softer seed. Hulled is used in bakery, confectionery and tahini; natural is preferred for oil crushing and for applications where the coat's flavour and nutrients matter. Hulled carries a price premium and a shorter shelf life.
99%, 99.5% and 99.95% are the standard export grades, achieved through machine cleaning and sortex colour-sorting. 99.95% is common for Japanese and European buyers; 99% is often sufficient for crushing.
If you're crushing for oil, oil content (typically 48–52%) is the parameter that drives your yield and therefore your economics. If you're buying for food use, purity and colour matter more than oil content.
Yes. Natural black sesame is exported mainly to East Asian markets for confectionery, bakery and culinary use, and is specified the same way as white — purity, moisture, admixture.
Yes, on request, and we'd recommend it for Japan, EU and Korea shipments in particular — these markets apply strict limits and testing before shipment is far cheaper than a rejection at destination.
Around 18–20 MT in a 20ft and 24–26 MT in a 40ft, depending on bag size and stuffing method.
The main kharif harvest arrives October–December, with rabi/summer crop extending availability. Pricing is usually most competitive shortly after the main harvest.
Related products
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