According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Ethiopia has risen from a minor producer of sesame in 2002 to Africa’s largest producer in 2011. During the same time period, China went from being a net exporter to a net importer, becoming the primary destination for Ethiopia’s sesame seeds.
As per Sisay Asmare, President of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds, and Spices Processors-Exporters Association (EPOSPEA), 60 to 70 percent of Ethiopia’s total sesame export goes to China. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and security concerns in some parts of Ethiopia, the country’s sesame seed export to China increased during the Ethiopian fiscal years 2019/20 and 2020/21, reaching 99,015 tons and 92,301 tons, respectively.
It’s no surprise that Ethiopian exporters are looking for new ways to expand their market reach in China. According to Sisay, events like the China International Import Expo provide excellent opportunities for Ethiopian exporters to maintain their stronghold in the Chinese sesame market by forging partnerships with their Chinese counterparts.
