Global sesame supply and demand is seeing mixed factors for white sesame, while black sesame remains at high prices. Concerns about production cuts are emerging in East Africa and Brazil, but China's abundant stocks are weighing on prices. Furthermore, concerns are growing regarding stricter pesticide regulations concerning quality and safety. The photo shows black sesame cultivation in Myanmar (early June 2014, provided by a trading company). Sesame seeds are mainly produced in Africa and other regions, and their supply tends to be unstable due to the influence of weather and political conditions. White sesame prices rose to around $2,000 in 2023, but then softened to around $1,300 by the end of 2025 due to increased production in countries like Brazil and Pakistan, which eased supply and demand. Currently, prices have rebounded and are around $1,500 for food-grade sesame. China, the world's largest importer, significantly surpassed its previous record with approximately 1.46 million tons of imports in 2025. Port inventories in China remained high at 368,000 tons as of June 23 (compared to 320,000 tons during the same period last year). Meanwhile, cumulative imports from January to May totaled 586,651 tons (compared to 631,749 tons during the same period last year), falling below the previous year's record high, but still on pace to exceed 1 million tons annually, indicating that demand remains stable. On the supply side, "some suppliers are predicting a 20-30% reduction in production in Tanzania and a 30-50% reduction in production in Mozambique compared to previous years," according to a trading company source. In Brazil, the decline in prices has led to a decrease in planting intentions, and some predict that production will fall from over 400,000 tons in 2025 to around 250,000 tons in 2026. A trading company source believes that "although there are factors contributing to reduced production in East African producing regions, China's inventory levels are high, making it difficult for prices to rise or fall sharply." <Black sesame seeds from Paraguay and Bolivia are in high price range, and supply concerns remain regarding those from Myanmar.> Meanwhile, the supply and demand for black sesame remains tight. Prices in Paraguay and Bolivia are in the high range of over $3,000. Although the black sesame market has softened temporarily due to the influx of pre-monsoon crop from Myanmar, the outlook for the main monsoon crop remains uncertain. Uncertainty in domestic affairs, including civil war and disruptions to logistics, means that supply concerns persist. In China, domestic production of black sesame seeds is expanding, driven by subsidy policies and other factors. Furthermore, trends in major producing countries such as India are likely to influence future supply and demand. The supply of golden sesame seeds from Egypt is increasing. Turkey, which was previously the main source, has become difficult to procure due to soaring prices, and Egypt now accounts for the majority of raw materials destined for Japan. Therefore, there are concerns about supply risks if high temperatures or other problems occur in Egypt, and the limited number of alternative sources is also a challenge. In terms of quality and safety, addressing pesticide residues remains a challenge. A revision of the residue limit for the insecticide chlorpyrifos is being considered, from the current 0.05 ppm to a uniform limit of 0.01 ppm, raising concerns among industry stakeholders. This pesticide is frequently used in sesame-producing regions, and the future of the regulations is being closely watched. While the price of white sesame seeds continues to be influenced by Chinese stocks, black and golden sesame seeds face supply concerns. In addition, they are facing the challenge of reviewing regulations on pesticide residues, so the environment surrounding raw material procurement remains unpredictable.