The end of 2025 reveals a stark contrast within the specialty commodities sector: while Paraguayan chia seed production has once again achieved a historic leap in volume and revenue, sesame seed production has experienced a slower year, hampered by weak international prices and a smaller planted area. The overall performance of the export sector shows that Paraguay is consolidating its leading role in high-value niches, although with very different dynamics across different product categories.The star of 2025 is undoubtedly chia , which is once again demonstrating its global potential. As Adrián Baquer, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Chia Exporters (Capec) , explained to InfoNegocios, between the start of the harvest last July and its end in November, Paraguay exported 46,000 tons, 14% more than in the same period of 2024, when 40,000 tons were shipped. But the most compelling figure lies in the revenue: chia generated almost US$123 million, a 42% jump compared to the US$86 million of the previous year. “International demand continues to grow, and Paraguay is demonstrating that it can meet the demands of the most discerning markets,” Baquer emphasized. The country already exports to 80 to 85 ports worldwide, including destinations where it previously had no presence. The United States is the strongest market, absorbing between 30% and 40% of local production. Europe, Australia, the Middle East—especially the UAE and Turkey—and Southeast Asia complete the expansion map, with growing interest in Indonesia and Malaysia.The boom is also driving industrialization: in addition to whole grain, Paraguay exports chia flour and ground chia, products that allow entry into new food chains such as baked goods, supplements and protein mixes.By 2026, the sector projects a 20% increase in cultivated area, although yields will continue to depend on the weather, a decisive factor for an extensive crop that cannot be protected from extreme events. Even so, Baquer asserted that the sector shows no signs of reaching its limit: “Last year there was talk of overproduction, and yet demand exceeded supply. We are not yet experiencing a ceiling.” Sesame: a cycle of low prices and reduced acreage, with an eye on 2026 The outlook for sesame was very different. Gilberto Osorio, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Sesame Exporters (Capexse) , described 2025 to our newspaper as a “slow and tight” year. The drop in international prices, especially since the middle of the harvest, squeezed profit margins and forced the sector to “sell everything produced, but in a much tighter environment.”Export volumes remained relatively stable compared to 2024, although the industry expects to release updated figures for the period ending in November. Global trade tensions—including tariff discussions between the US and China—did not have a direct impact, although they did lead some markets to adopt more cautious stances.For the next harvest, which begins in January, a stronger yield is expected, despite a reduction in the planted area of white sesame compared to last year. Confectionery sesame continues to face pressure from low prices and increasing competition from Brazil in mechanized harvesting. In contrast, black sesame is showing strong demand, which could boost the start of 2026. “The production sector continues to invest in this crop because, even with lower prices, it remains profitable and has a guaranteed market,” Osorio emphasized, also noting that sesame allows many producers to generate key income in January-February, historically sensitive months for the agricultural sector. Paraguay gains ground in premium niches 2025 reaffirms that chia and sesame remain strategic pillars of the country's specialty commodities, albeit with different trajectories. Chia is advancing strongly, expanding its reach and markets, while sesame is readjusting and anticipates a more favorable 2026 in terms of prices and yields.With more than 5,000 producers involved in the chia chain and an increasingly professionalized export structure, the country continues to strengthen itself in sectors where quality, traceability and consistency are as important as volume.And although sesame faces a more challenging cycle, expectations for next year remain positive. In both cases, Paraguay closes 2025 demonstrating competitiveness, resilience, and adaptability: attributes that define its position in the global market today.