Sesame Seed Imports in Poland Soar: A 34% YoY Increase in H1-23

Over the past five years, the European Union (EU) consistently imports more than 100,000 metric tons (mt) of sesame seeds annually from key producing markets. The supplying market of sesame seeds in the EU includes Nigeria, India, Turkey, and Pakistan. Imports of sesame seed into the EU market had a positive trend until 2021. However, in 2022, sesame seed imports to the EU experienced setbacks due to the global looming effect of COVID-19. EU imported only 107,739 metric tons (mt) of sesame seed, which decreased by 25% year-on-year (YoY).

Source: Eurostat

As discussed in a previous analysis, the European Union (EU) tightened the regulation of Indian sesame seed import due to higher pesticide content, underscoring the importance of sourcing from reliable and quality-focused suppliers. As a result, other markets have capitalized on India's shrinking market share by boosting their supply to the EU market.

Pakistan is an emerging prominent supplier in the EU sesame seed market due to its commitment to quality and food safety. The EU experienced a remarkable 1,300% YoY increase to 10,723 mt of Pakistani sesame seed imports in 2021, driven partly by quality issues with Indian imports. In 2022, EU sesame seeds experienced a decrease due to COVID-19, which also affected Pakistani sesame seed supply to the EU, declining by 34% YoY to 7.024 mt in 2022. However, the Pakistani sesame production forecasts in 2023 have a better amount of supply than the previous year, with an estimated production of 225,000 mt, representing a substantial 12% YoY. This bountiful harvest is attributed to favorable weather, such as adequate rainfall and reduced heat waves in the ongoing season. This will be an opportunity to increase supply to the EU market.

Poland has emerged as one of the key players in sesame seed imports within the EU. This is because sesame seeds are widely used in traditional Polish confectionery, with snacks like ‘sezamki’ and 'chalwa' which have been cherished for centuries by local consumers. Aside from traditional sesame products, significant growth of ethnic foods like hummus is also happening in Poland. Thus, Poland has increased its import of sesame seed in the first six months of 2023 by 34% YoY to 6,786 mt.

Source: Trademap

The increase in the import of sesame seeds in Poland brings several implications for buyers. Firstly, the increased focus on quality necessitates a rigorous evaluation of sourcing options. Poland must assess the origin and quality standards of its suppliers to meet the expectations of discerning consumers in the market. Tightening regulations for Indian sesame seed imports due to pesticide content concerns underscore the importance of sourcing from reliable and quality-focused suppliers. Poland has continued to increase its imports from Pakistan in 2023, importing 1,457, mt of sesame seeds in H1-23, which marked an impressive 49% YoY growth.

Moreover, the increasing popularity of ethnic foods – such as hummus, which contains chickpeas and sesame seeds – suggests significant growth in the coming years. In 2022, the global hummus market was worth approximately USD 2.88 billion. It is projected to grow to approximately USD 4.26 billion by 2029. This growth is expected to occur at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The rising popularity of sesame-based products like hummus presents opportunities for innovative product development and market expansion going forward.