Japanese and South Korean food manufacturers have accelerated sesame seed procurement from India, with combined April-2026 bookings reaching 41,200 MT — the highest single-month figure since 2021.
Why the surge
Civil disruption in Sudan, historically the world’s largest sesame exporter, has cut its export availability by an estimated 60%. Ethiopia, the second-largest origin, is also constrained by FX-driven export restrictions. With African supply tightening, premium Asian buyers have rotated decisively to Indian origin.
Premium grades in demand
Hulled sesame with 99.95% purity and Salmonella-free certification is the most sought-after grade, fetching $1,480–1,520/MT FOB Mundra — a $90/MT premium over the same period last year. Natural-sortex grades are also trading firm at $1,180–1,230/MT.
Outlook
Indian exporters with BRC, FSSC 22000 and Halal/Kosher certifications continue to capture a disproportionate share of this trade. Buyers are signing longer 6–9 month forward contracts to secure allocation, and we expect FOB premiums to hold through Q3.
- Q1 2026 basmati exports up 18% YoY at ₹6,800 crore.
- GCC + UK together = 62% of value share.
- FOB Mundra prices up $40–55/MT YoY across all grades.
- Forward-booking volumes for Q3 2026 are 35% ahead of last year.
| Grade | FOB Mundra ($/MT) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1121 Basmati (Steam) | $1,180 | +5.2% |
| 1121 Basmati (Raw) | $1,080 | +4.8% |
| 1509 Basmati (Steam) | $960 | +3.1% |
Forward-booking volumes for Q3 2026 are running 35% ahead of last year — suggesting sustained import demand through the new-crop harvest window.
| 1121 Steam | $1,180 | up |
| 1121 Raw | $1,080 | up |
| Cumin (ASTA) | $3,200 | down |
| Yellow Maize | $248 | up |
| Apr 30 | APEDA Annual Renewal |
| May 15 | EU MRL Update — Spices & Millets |
| Jun 01 | New Crop Basmati — Pricing Season |
| Jun 10 | GCC Customs Update — Dubai Portal |
| Trade & Export | India-UAE CEPA: Agro Exporters Gain Zero-Duty Access on 97% of Tariff Lines | # |
| Market Updates | Cumin Seeds: Global Shortage Pushes FOB Prices to a 3-Year High | # |
| Regulatory | EU MRL Updates 2026: New Pesticide Residue Limits | # |