Indian Sesame Prices Edge Higher While Egyptian FOBs Hold Flat

Indian and Egyptian sesame prices are mildly firmer, with New Delhi FOBs ticking up across most grades while Cairo-origin quotes remain flat but competitive in EUR terms. Sesame markets in India and Egypt enter mid-September with a slightly firmer tone, driven by steady export demand and seasonally tightening farmer selling as kharif fields move toward late vegetative and pod-setting stages. In New Delhi, both natural and hulled sesame grades have inched higher over the past week, while Egyptian natural and golden sesame FOB Cairo are broadly unchanged, supported by active shipment programs into key destination markets. Weather over the coming days in both New Delhi and Cairo looks seasonally warm but without disruptive extremes, limiting near-term production risk and keeping the market focused on trade flows and currency moves.

Prices

All prices converted to EUR using an indicative rate of 1 USD = 0.92 EUR for comparison only.

Public trade-flow data confirm that global buyers remain active in Egyptian-origin natural sesame, with thousands of shipments tracked over the latest 12‑month period and continued diversification of destination markets. Indian exports also stay robust in 2026, with Q1 shipments above 57,000 tonnes and export values over USD 90 million, underlining India’s central role in global supply.

Supply & Demand Drivers (IN, EG)

In India, sesame is largely a kharif crop, sown with the southwest monsoon and typically harvested from late September through October. As of mid-September 2026, monsoon activity is gradually weakening, but conditions in key producing areas (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh) are generally consistent with late-season norms, supporting crop development without major excess-rainfall damage.

Export-side, India has maintained a strong 2026 shipment pace, with Q1 exports already at around 57,600 tonnes and USD 91 million in value. This underpins firm demand for both natural and hulled sesame, particularly from Asia and the Middle East, and helps explain the recent uptick in New Delhi FOB values despite still‑comfortable pipeline stocks.

Egypt, by contrast, acts as a focused exporter of natural sesame, with recent trade intelligence showing more than 8,000 global shipments of Egyptian-origin natural sesame in the last tracked period and over 1,500 buyers served worldwide. Although a recent analytical report highlighted a contraction in Egypt’s sesame import activity over the Oct‑2024 to Sep‑2025 window, current data confirm that exports of domestic sesame remain competitive in key markets, limiting any downside in FOB Cairo offers.

Short-Term Weather Outlook (IN, EG)

India – New Delhi / North India: Forecasts for New Delhi over 13–15 September 2026 show generally cloudy, warm conditions with maximum temperatures around 31–33°C, high humidity and intermittent light rain or patchy showers. These conditions are broadly seasonally normal for late monsoon and should support late vegetative and early pod-filling stages in nearby sesame areas without major harvest disruption.

Egypt – Cairo / Nile Valley: Cairo’s 3‑day outlook points to hot, dry and stable weather with daytime highs in the mid‑30s°C and no significant rainfall expected. Such conditions are typical for September and pose little immediate production risk to Egyptian sesame, while also ensuring smooth logistics for inland movement and port loading.

Fundamentals & Market Sentiment

• Indian FOB support: Strength in India’s export program and modest farmer selling, as producers wait for clearer yield signals, are combining to lift FOB New Delhi prices by low single digits week-on-week.
• Egyptian price stability: Despite earlier reports of tighter foreign currency conditions, current trade data suggest that Egypt continues to place sizeable volumes into global markets, helping keep Cairo FOB quotes broadly stable in EUR terms.
• Global demand mix: Buyers in Asia, the Middle East and Europe remain active, with some shifting between Indian and Egyptian origin depending on quality specs, logistics and currency. Recent TTM data show diverse destination markets for Egyptian sesame, reinforcing competition on the demand side.

Trading Outlook & 3-Day Price View (IN, EG)

• Importers (EU / MENA): Consider partial coverage of Q4 2026 needs in Indian hulled sesame, as New Delhi prices show a gently rising trend but remain historically reasonable in EUR terms. Stagger further purchases to manage monsoon‑end and early harvest headline risk.
• Buyers focused on natural grades: Egyptian-origin natural sesame offers look competitively priced versus Indian natural, with flat week‑on‑week levels. Locking in a portion of requirements from Egypt can diversify origin risk while India moves closer to harvest.
• Producers & exporters (IN, EG): With no immediate weather threat and firm demand, use current stability to advance forward sales on rallies, but retain some open tonnage to capture any additional upside if harvest results disappoint in key Indian states.

3‑Day Directional Price Indication (all in EUR, directional only, not firm offers)

• India – FOB New Delhi hulled sesame (EU grade): Slightly firm bias over the next 3 days, with indicative range around 1.38–1.44 EUR/kg.
• India – FOB New Delhi natural sesame: Mildly firm to steady, indicative range about 1.15–1.32 EUR/kg.
• Egypt – FOB Cairo natural and golden sesame: Mostly steady, indicative range roughly 1.32–1.82 EUR/kg, with limited short‑term volatility expected under current weather and trade conditions.