Market research

Sesame seeds market in Costa Rica

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The sesame seeds market in Costa Rica grew from 447.5 t in 2018 to 518.2 t in 2019, a rise supported by the implementation of the National Seed Policy 2017-2030 and the regulatory oversight of the National Seed Office (ONS). These measures streamlined import and export procedures, ensured seed quality, and promoted sector development, which facilitated a significant increase in imports from 291.4 t to 365.1 t.

After a contraction to 416.8 t in 2020, the market recovered to 505.7 t in 2021. By 2022, volume stabilized at 487.4 t, aided by innovations such as the carbon-neutral operation of a major agricultural research station and an updated executive decree that simplified the registration of new seed varieties for commercial sale. These steps encouraged production efficiency and the adoption of advanced technologies like AI-based seed analysis.

In 2023, market volume fell markedly to 373.3 t, largely due to a drop in imports to 212.2 t. This decline occurred even as global and regional demand for sesame seeds was rising, driven by nutritional benefits and growing consumer health awareness.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Costa Rica
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sesame seeds in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sesame seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sesame seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Costa Rica's sesame seed production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 161.8 t of sesame seeds, which is 1.7% higher than in 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 5%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.4%	1.8%	1.7%	1.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sesame seeds from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, t

Costa Rica exported 5.2 t of sesame seeds in 2020, marking a significant decline of 12.1% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 18.9%, with an average annual decrease of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(12.1%)	(6.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Panama accounted for nearly all of Costa Rica's sesame seed exports in volume, holding a 100.0% share of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Costa Rica's sesame seed exports reached 13.9 K $ US, down by 18.2% from 2019. However, over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 21.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(18.2%)	6.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, 100.0% of Costa Rica's sesame seed exports in value terms went to Panama, making this market overwhelmingly dominant.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sesame seeds to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Costa Rica's sesame seed imports totaled 260.2 t, a decrease of 28.7% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports declined by 15.6%, with an average annual drop of 5.5%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 365.1 t, which also saw the largest increase of 25.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.5%)	25.3%	(28.7%)	(5.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Guatemala (46.7% of import volume), India (26.7% of import volume), and Mexico (16.0% of import volume) led the structure of Costa Rica's sesame seed imports in kind, together representing 89.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Costa Rica's sesame seed imports declined in 2020, reaching 678.1 K $ US, a fall of 31.7% from 2019. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 18.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.8%. The peak value was in 2019 at 993.2 K $ US, which also experienced the largest increase of 50.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.2%	50.6%	(31.7%)	5.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Guatemala (47.3% of import value), India (21.7% of import value), and Mexico (18.4% of import value) played the leading roles in Costa Rica's sesame seed imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 87.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io