Sesame seeds market in Myanmar

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, climatic conditions such as drought and floods during the monsoon season affected sesame seed production in Myanmar. The following year, market volume grew to 647 thousand tonnes, supported by seed innovation through Equinom's patented sesame variety and increasing global consumer preference for healthy foods. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, leading to a sharp decline in market volume to 522 thousand tonnes, exacerbated by ongoing climatic challenges.

Post-pandemic effects continued into 2021, with labor shortages constraining production recovery, but rising demand for organic and non-GMO sesame seeds helped lift market volume to 568 thousand tonnes. By 2022, global growth in organic sesame seed exports and the veganism trend drove volume further to 635 thousand tonnes, although market value dropped to 903 million US dollars. In 2023, drought conditions contributed to a slight volume decrease to 623 thousand tonnes, while health consciousness and food processing industry expansion supported a market value increase to 979 million US dollars.

Production sesame seeds in Myanmar

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Myanmar held the third position globally in sesame seed production.

Top producers of sesame seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sesame seeds, 2017-2020

In 2020, Myanmar produced 658.0 thousand tons of sesame seeds, marking a significant decline of 11.6% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 13.9%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 4.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 4.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports sesame seeds from Myanmar

Exports in kind, K t

Sesame seed exports from Myanmar grew for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 138.9 thousand tons, showing a dramatic increase of 35.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports rose by 12.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.0%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 84.5 thousand tons, while the largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 31.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China remained the primary destination for Myanmar's sesame seed exports in volume terms, accounting for 76.4% of total flows, with the remainder fragmented across other markets.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Sesame seed shipments from Myanmar increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, Myanmar exported sesame seeds worth 300.2 million US dollars, reflecting a substantial rise of 22.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 82.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 22.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Myanmar in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, China was the dominant destination for Myanmar's sesame seed exports in value terms, making up 80.4% of total flows, while the remaining share was distributed among several smaller markets.

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

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

Imports sesame seeds to Myanmar

Imports in kind, K t

The market experienced noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, imported sesame seed volumes in Myanmar amounted to 3.2 thousand tons, down by 41.6% from 2019. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 5.6 thousand tons, and the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a jump of 74.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for sesame seed imports to Myanmar in volume terms were Nigeria (22.0% of imports), Paraguay (19.6% of imports), and India (16.6% of imports), which together accounted for 58.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.6-fold gap between these extremes. In 2020, sesame seed import volumes in Myanmar came to 4.1 million US dollars, which is 46.6% lower than in 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 7.7 million US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a surge of 124.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Myanmar in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Nigeria (23.3% of imports in value terms), Paraguay (20.9% of imports in value terms), and India (14.0% of imports in value terms) remained the main markets for sesame seed imports to Myanmar, collectively representing 58.2% of total flows.

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

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