Sesame seed Export in Nigeria

Though unknown to many Nigerians, Sesame seed – popularly called Benne seed in the Northern part of Nigeria – is an important crop to the Nigerian agricultural sector in particular, and Nigeria’s non-oil sector in general.

The crop is quite largely cultivated in the country, thriving in relatively poor climatic conditions.

Worldwide, there are over 4.8 million tonnes of seeds produced yearly, with Myanmar being its largest producer. Nigeria is now the 2nd largest African producer, behind Sudan, and ranked 7th in the world.

Sesame seed production probably began in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria before spreading to other states. The leading producers of the seeds are Jigawa, Nasarawa, Benue, and Sokoto. Other sesame cultivating states include Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Gombe, and Plateau states.

As of now, sesame is cultivated in about 26 states across Nigeria, and with the good returns sesame farmers are getting from the seed, coupled with the huge demand by importers, its cultivation is expected to increase and spread to other states

Production of sesame seeds stood at 450,000 metric tonnes and it keeps growing yearly.

Meanwhile, since the seeds are majorly cultivated by peasant farmers, their commercialization is carried out by buyers and middlemen, who move around the rural areas of Northern Nigeria to buy from these subsistence farmers.

These buyers transport the seeds to big towns, where they are stored and sold to the agents of major sesame seed exporters.

The urban markets in these sesame producing states are the buying centers/towns for exporters.

These buying centers include Malam-Madori in Jigawa, Doma in Nasarawa, Potiskum in Yobe, and Dawanau in Kano State.

Nigeria's Sesame seeds hold value for exports and are currently in hot demand throughout the world because oil extracted from the seeds is better than any other oil in the whole world

Sesame seed is majorly exported to Asia and Europe. The total value of sesame exports in Q1 2018 was N26.6 billion.

China and Japan are the leading destinations for sesame seeds grown in Nigeria. N8 billion worth of sesame seeds were exported to China, N6.56 billion to Japan, and N6.1 billion to Turkey in the first quarter of 2018.

Other top sesame seeds importing countries from Nigeria in Q1 2018 include Vietnam, with N2.2 billion worth of the seed’s import, and the Netherlands with N800 million.

Challenges Facing Sesame Seed Export From Nigeria

•Quality... Ability to get good export-grade sesame in the market matters a lot.

•very few laboratories are available to test sesame before exportation...

•Nigeria’s bad external image. Although many exporters have been able to prove their selves, it's still hard for importers to trust Nigerians. But there are ways of cross-checking an exporter. We will talk about that later.

•Inability to access financial assistance from financial institutions for export..its either the assistance is coming late or it's not coming at all.

•Ineffective equipment/facilities at the Apapa Port...

•Poor road networks frustrate the movement of the seeds from the buying centers to laboratories and also to ports

•Poor infrastructure and inefficient marketing arrangements which make it difficult for agric exporters to market the products

•Many trucks conveying sesame seeds are left unattended on time, thereby making it hard in getting the seeds into the vessels on time which results in the exports missing their vessels on several  occasions

•Export grants, support schemes, and incentives are not properly implemented.

Sesame Seed Export Details

Origin: Nigeria

Type: Clean Natural Unhulled Sesame Seeds

Price: Competitive & Negotiable

Trial Order: 10 Metric Tonnes

Trade Process: FOB/CFR

Payment Method: 100% irrevocable & Confirmed L/C at Sight

Packaging: 50 kg bags loaded in container 20" FCL

Shipping Time: 15 to 25 days after confirmation of L/C

Specifications

Purity: Minimum of 98%

Admixture: Maximum of 2%

Other colour of seeds: Maximum of 2%

Oil Content: Minimum of 45%

Moisture Content: Maximum of 10%

Inspection: SGS

Expected Shipping Documents

- Bill of Lading

- Certificate of Origin

- SGS Inspection Certificate

- Phytosanitary Certificate

- Fumigation Certificate

- Commercial Invoice

- Packing List