Sesame Prices — August 2026

Current price snapshot

Sesame pricing remains highly regional. Nigerian wholesale prices in 2026 range between $1.36 and $3.41 per kilogram, while South African transaction prices have traded notably higher, around $8.78/kg as of late 2025. Meanwhile, bulk low-grade African supply has faced downward pressure, with prices in some markets pushed toward $1,500–$1,700 per tonne as rapid production growth has outpaced quality infrastructure.

Africa’s growing role

Africa has become the backbone of global sesame supply. Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso now collectively account for a dominant share of internationally traded sesame, driven by favourable growing conditions and cost competitiveness relative to Asian origins — even after accounting for logistics costs.

Policy and supply shifts

Producing governments are actively managing supply-side pricing. Burkina Faso, Africa’s fourth-largest sesame producer, cut its official floor price for the 2025/2026 season by 14.4%, from 625 to 535 CFA francs per kilogram, citing a saturated global market and weaker demand from China, the world’s largest sesame importer.

Outlook

Analysts expect continued widening differentiation between certified and non-certified exporters, meaning quality assurance and traceability are becoming more important to achieving strong pricing — not just production volume. For buyers, this makes supplier verification and quality grading increasingly central to securing consistent, fairly-priced supply.

This report reflects publicly available commodity market data as of August 2026 and is intended as a general market overview, not trading advice. Prices are updated periodically — check back for the latest figures.

Raholu International Trade simplifies international sourcing across Africa by managing supplier identification, procurement, quality assurance, export coordination and logistics — giving your business one trusted partner from enquiry to delivery.