BEIJING: Pakistan’s sesame seeds export to China surged past $10.37 million from January to March 2024, marking a significant 29% year-on-year growth.
Data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) revealed that Pakistan exported 6137.044 tons of sesame seeds during this period, valued at $10.37 million, indicating a robust 28.81% increase compared to the same period last year, which stood at $8.16 million.
Rakesh Pal Khamuani, Director of Export & BD at Kanwal Trading Company (Pvt) Ltd Pakistan, highlighted to China Economic Net that Pakistan had achieved $375 million in sesame seed exports in the past 8 months of the fiscal year, with potential for further expansion. He credited the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China for boosting sesame seed exports, mutually benefiting both nations.
Khamuani emphasized China’s strategic transit advantage from Pakistan, citing an estimated average price of $1750 for this year’s sesame crop. He said that Punjab province contributed approximately 75% of the total sesame seed crop, yielding around 170,000 MT, while Sindh province accounted for the remaining 25%, producing about 55,000 MT. Punjab specializes in Farmi, Hybrid, and Black brown varieties, whereas Sindh focuses on Mix and Desi varieties.
Anticipating an outstanding crop this year, Khamuani projected total sesame production to exceed 225,000 MT, with an average yield of 400 kg per acre, marking unprecedented levels of harvest in Pakistan.
