The price of newly harvested black sesame seeds (Samone variety) spiked in the brisk market during the last week of May 2022, according to Mandalay wholesale market.Those sesame seeds which pass acid test levels receive a higher price of K225,000-K230,000 per 45-viss bag. The fresh black sesame from Sagaing Region is flowing into the market.“The black sesame price went up as the Sino-Myanmar trade channel is open again. Chinese traders are constantly purchasing them,” said an exporter. This year, the price of black sesame seeds soared at the beginning of the season. The prices of black sesame seeds hit over K200,000 per 45-viss bag in early 2022, while it was priced at approximately K185,000 per bag on 12 May 2022.The prevailing price is higher than the price recorded last year. In early June 2021, the black sesame seeds fetched only K130,000-K143,000 per bag. Myanmar’s sesame was earlier exported to China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and China Taipei. However, it is now relying solely on China and the shipments to other foreign countries have certain difficulties.Among the agricultural products that are allowed to be exported through the border posts, oil crops (peanut and sesame seeds) except black sesame are temporarily suspended for exports to secure the local consumption starting from 9 May, according to the Trade Department. The Export licence is required for various beans and pulses, oil crops and oil, according to notification (7/2022) of the Ministry of Commerce.Sesame is cultivated in the country throughout the year. Magway Region, which has gained a reputation as the oil pot of Myanmar, is the main producer of sesame seeds. The seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Sagaing regions.Of the cooking oil crops grown in Myanmar, the acreage under sesame seed is the highest, accounting for 51.3 per cent of the overall oil crop plantation. About 600,000-800,000 tonnes of sesame seeds are yearly produced.