Pakistan has firmly established itself among the top global producers and exporters of commercial sesame seeds. Benefiting from diverse agricultural ecosystems, warm climates, and fertile alluvial soils along the Indus River basin, the country produces high-oil, bright natural white sesame seeds.
For international commodity buyers, understanding Pakistan’s harvest calendar, regional crop schedules, and pricing cycles is essential for optimizing procurement budgets and securing guaranteed delivery slots.
Regional Crop Calendar & Sourcing Belts
The matrix below details key agricultural belts and harvest windows across Pakistan:
| Region / Belt | Primary Cultivars | Harvest Window | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Belt (Bahawalpur, Multan, Layyah) | Natural White, Sortex Grade | October – November | High purity, uniform light cream color, 48-52% oil content |
| Sindh Province (Mirpurkhas, Sanghar) | Natural White, Commercial Grade | September – October | Early harvest window, high yield volume, ideal for bulk export |
| KPK & Northern Belts | Black Sesame, Mixed Grades | November – December | Specialty dark/black sesame seeds, specialized niche crops |
1. Annual Kharif Harvest Phases
The main commercial sesame crop in Pakistan is cultivated during the Kharif (summer) season:
A. Sowing Phase (May – June)
Farmers plant sesame following early summer rains or under irrigated canal systems. High summer temperatures provide ideal germination conditions.
B. Maturation & Field Drying (August – September)
Sesame pods mature on standing stalks. As leaves yellow and pods turn golden, farmers harvest stalks manually and stack them upright in fields to dry naturally under the sun.
C. Threshing & Mandi Arrival (September – November)
Pods open upon drying, releasing raw seeds. Threshing takes place at farm gate, and raw sesame enters local commodity assembly markets (mandis) across Punjab and Sindh. Peak export supply window begins in October.
2. Pricing Dynamics & Seasonality
Sesame prices follow a predictable annual curve influenced by arrivals at regional mandis and global export demand:
I. Peak Harvest Window (October - December)
- Market Condition: Maximum volume arriving at regional mandis.
- Pricing Profile: Lowest spot market prices of the year.
- Buyer Strategy: Best period for executing annual forward supply agreements.
II. Secondary Export Phase (January - March)
- Market Condition: Direct mandi arrivals taper off; inventory held in processing warehouses.
- Pricing Profile: Stable pricing with moderate carrying charges added.
III. Off-Season Phase (April - August)
- Market Condition: Raw material available only from commercial stockpiles.
- Pricing Profile: Highest price levels due to storage and interest holding costs.
3. Sourcing Guidelines for Import Managers
A. Lock In Contracts During Peak Harvest
Executing purchase agreements between October and December allows importers to lock in structural price advantages.
B. Specify Regional Belt Requirements
Request origin documentation confirming whether seeds were sourced from Punjab (higher visual uniformity) or Sindh (large bulk volume).
C. Verify Farm-Gate Moisture Levels
Ensure raw material moisture is checked immediately upon harvest to prevent mold development during containerized transport.
Sesame Market Intelligence Desk
Published by the SesameSuppliers agricultural export and research team.