Sesame seeds export tops US$287.75 mln in seven months

Myanmar’s sesame seeds export has earned US$287.75 million in the seven months (October-April) of the current financial year 2020-2021, according to data released by Myanmar Customs Department.
Chinese buyers hesitate to buy sesame amid transportation difficulties triggered by the COVID-19 resurgence. The price is on the bear market in July, said an exporter.
The export price of sesame seeds dipped to K130,000-148,000 per bag on 8 July owing to Kyat weakening against the dollar in the local forex market, whereas it fetched about K135,000-160,000 in the last week of June, according to Mandalay commodity depot.
Normally, Myanmar exports about 80 per cent of sesame production to foreign markets. China is the main buyer of Myanmar sesame, which was also shipped to markets in Japan, South Korea, China (Taipei), the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Poland among the EU countries.
The EU markets prefer organic-farming sesame seeds from Myanmar. Japan prefers Myanmar black sesame seeds, cultivated under good agricultural practices (GAP), and purchases them after a quality assessment. Black sesame seeds from Myanmar were previously exported to South Korea and Japan.
China usually purchases various coloured sesame seeds from the country, yet, the trade is quite sluggish for now. This year, Japan has not purchased Myanmar’s sesame yet.
Sesame is cultivated in the country throughout the year. Magway Region, which has gained a reputation as the oil pot of Myanmar, is the main producer of sesame seeds. The seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Sagaing regions.
Of the cooking oil crops grown in Myanmar, the acreage under sesame seed is the highest, accounting for 51.3 per cent of the overall oil crop plantation.
The volume of sesame exports was registered at over 96,000 metric tons, worth $130 million, in the financial year 2015-2016; $100,000 tonnes, worth $145 million, in the 2016-2017FY; 120,000 tonnes, worth $147 million, in the 2017-2018FY; 33,900 tonnes valued $43.8 million in the 2018 mini-budget period, 125,800 tonnes, worth $212.5 million in the 2018-2019FY and over 150,000 tonnes of sesame, worth $240 million in the previous 2019-2020FY, the trade data of Central Statistical Organization indicated. – KK/GNLM