Pakistan Targets Higher-Value Sesame Exports as China Demand Soars

Pakistan is aiming to earn more from its fast-growing sesame trade with China — not just by exporting seeds, but by processing them at home.

Pakistani conglomerate IMGC has built a 2,000-square-metre processing plant and plans to use Chinese machinery to produce higher-value products including sesame oil and paste for the Chinese market.

The opportunity is growing quickly. Pakistan exported 103,340 tonnes of sesame worth $105.29 million to China in the first seven months of 2026, with volumes more than doubling from a year earlier.

The next step: turn more Pakistani sesame into finished products before it leaves the country.