Why Chinese Buyers Choose Pakistani Sesame
China imports over one million tonnes of sesame seeds every year to feed its oil crushing plants, sesame paste (zhi ma jiang) factories, and food industry. Domestic production covers only a fraction of demand, and Pakistan has become one of China's most strategically important origins. Here is why importers in Qingdao, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Shanghai buy from Kohenoor International:
- Zero Import Duty Under CPFTA — Sesame seeds of Pakistani origin (HS 1207.40) enter China duty-free under Phase II of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Compared with origins that attract standard tariffs, this gives Chinese buyers an immediate landed-cost advantage on every container. We issue the CPFTA Certificate of Origin with each shipment so you can claim the preferential rate at customs.
- High Oil Content: 48-52% — Pakistani sesame consistently delivers among the highest oil yields of any commercial origin, directly improving crush margins for oil mills. Free fatty acid (FFA) is held at ≤2%, protecting oil quality and shelf life.
- 99.98% Purity, Sortex-Cleaned — Every lot passes multi-stage processing: pre-cleaning, de-stoning, gravity separation, colour sorting (sortex), and metal detection. Admixture is held at ≤0.02%, which means less waste at your intake line and cleaner crush or paste output.
- Short, Reliable Transit: 12-16 Days — Karachi to Qingdao, Tianjin, or Shanghai is a fraction of the sailing time from African origins, reducing inventory risk, quality deterioration in transit, and working-capital lockup.
- GACC-Compliant Supplier — Pakistan is an approved origin for sesame with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), and our export documentation is prepared to match GACC registration and labelling requirements. Your customs broker receives a complete, consistent document set before the vessel arrives.
- Fresh-Crop Supply From Sindh & Punjab — We source directly from growers across Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan's two principal sesame belts, and process in Hyderabad. Direct farm-to-port control means traceable lots, consistent grading, and competitive FOB pricing without intermediary margins.
China's Sesame Market: Oil Crushing & Food Demand
China is by far the largest destination for Pakistani sesame exports, typically absorbing the majority of Pakistan's annual sesame shipments. Demand is driven by two engines. The first is oil crushing: fragrant sesame oil (xiang you) is a staple of Chinese cuisine, and crushers in Shandong, Hebei, and Henan provinces run year-round, prizing high-oil-content seed that maximises extraction yield per tonne. The second is food processing: sesame paste for hotpot dipping sauces and noodle dishes, bakery and mooncake production, sesame candy and brittle, and the fast-growing black sesame health food segment, where black sesame is valued in traditional Chinese nutrition.
Since Pakistan gained duty-free access under the CPFTA and expanded sesame acreage, Chinese buyers have steadily shifted volume toward Pakistani origin. The combination of tariff savings, geographic proximity, and quality comparable to premium African origins makes Pakistani sesame one of the best value propositions available to Chinese importers today. Kohenoor International has supplied this trade corridor with sortex-cleaned, export-grade sesame and complete documentation, shipment after shipment.
Applications for Pakistani Sesame in China
Sesame Oil Crushing
Fragrant Oil & Refined Oil Mills
48-52% oil content; FFA ≤2%
Our natural white sesame is optimised for oil extraction. High oil content and low FFA translate directly into better crush yields and premium fragrant oil quality for mills in Shandong, Hebei, and Henan.
Recommended: Natural white sesame, 20ft FCL (18-19 MT)
Sesame Paste (Zhi Ma Jiang)
Hotpot Sauces & Condiments
99.98% purity; uniform kernel size
Sortex-cleaned seed with minimal admixture produces smooth, consistent paste with clean flavour — essential for hotpot chains, condiment brands, and food service suppliers.
Recommended: Natural white or hulled sesame
Bakery & Mooncakes
Toppings & Fillings
Uniform colour after sortex grading
Even seed size and colour make our sesame ideal for burger buns, breadsticks, shaobing, and seasonal mooncake fillings where visual consistency matters to consumers.
Recommended: Hulled or natural white sesame
Black Sesame Health Foods
Paste, Powder & Desserts
Rich in calcium, antioxidants & lignans
China's black sesame segment — black sesame paste, powders, tang yuan fillings, and functional snacks — is growing quickly. Our black sesame is graded for deep uniform colour and clean taste.
Recommended: Black sesame, 25 KG PP bags
Confectionery & Snacks
Sesame Candy, Brittle & Bars
Admixture ≤0.02%
Low admixture and metal-detected lots protect snack production lines. Consistent roasting behaviour gives candy and bar manufacturers repeatable colour and flavour development.
Recommended: Natural white or hulled sesame
Re-Export & Trading
Distributors & Wholesalers
Custom packing & private marks available
Trading houses in Qingdao and Tianjin redistribute Pakistani sesame across inland provinces. We support custom bag weights, buyer marks, and mixed-variety containers on request.
Recommended: 25/50 KG PP bags with buyer branding
Sesame Seed Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|
| Botanical Name | Sesamum indicum L. |
| Varieties | Natural (White), Hulled, Black |
| Purity | 99.98% minimum, sortex-cleaned |
| Oil Content | 48-52% |
| Moisture | ≤5% |
| FFA (Free Fatty Acid) | ≤2% |
| Admixture | ≤0.02% |
| Aflatoxin | Below detectable limits (lab-tested per lot) |
| Origin | Sindh & Punjab, Pakistan |
| HS Code | 1207.40 |
| Packaging | 25/50 KG PP bags or custom packaging |
| MOQ | 5 Metric Tons |
| Incoterms | FOB Karachi / CIF / CFR Chinese ports |
| Documents | Phytosanitary Certificate + Certificate of Analysis with every shipment |
Shipping & Logistics: Karachi to China
We load containers at Karachi Port (KICT / SAPT terminals), roughly 165 km from our Hyderabad facility, giving us fast stuffing turnaround after order confirmation. Direct and single-transshipment services connect Karachi with all major Chinese gateways:
| Destination Port | Typical Transit Time | Serves |
|---|
| Qingdao | 12-15 days | Shandong crushing & trading hub |
| Tianjin (Xingang) | 13-16 days | North China, Beijing-Hebei corridor |
| Shanghai | 12-14 days | East China food processing belt |
| Guangzhou / Shenzhen | 10-13 days | South China distribution |
Documentation for GACC Clearance
Chinese customs clearance for oilseeds is documentation-driven. Every Kohenoor shipment to China includes:
- Phytosanitary Certificate issued by Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection, confirming the consignment meets Chinese plant-quarantine requirements
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) covering purity, moisture, oil content, FFA, admixture, and aflatoxin
- Certificate of Origin (CPFTA form) enabling you to claim the zero-duty preferential tariff at Chinese customs
- Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, and packing list matching GACC import-registration details
- GACC note: Pakistani sesame is an approved origin with the General Administration of Customs of China; we align consignment labelling and documents with GACC requirements and coordinate with your import agent to pre-clear any queries before vessel arrival
We ship via COSCO, Maersk, MSC, and other main-line carriers, and can arrange fumigation certificates and additional inspections (SGS or equivalent) on request. Terms available: FOB Karachi, CFR, or CIF to your nominated Chinese port.
How Chinese Importers Order From Us
- Step 1 — Enquiry & Quote: Send your target specification, volume, and destination port via our order page or WhatsApp. We respond with a firm FOB Karachi / CFR / CIF quotation within 24 hours, valid for a stated period against current crop pricing.
- Step 2 — Sample Approval: We courier a representative sample to your facility or lab in China. You confirm purity, oil content, colour, and moisture against the CoA before committing.
- Step 3 — Contract & Payment: We issue a proforma invoice covering quantity, specification, packing, incoterms, and payment terms (T/T or LC at sight). Production and container booking begin on confirmation.
- Step 4 — Shipment & Documents: Container stuffed, sealed, and loaded at Karachi; full GACC-ready document set (Phytosanitary, CoA, CPFTA Certificate of Origin, B/L, invoice, packing list) couriered or released per agreed terms before arrival at your Chinese port.
Why Kohenoor International
Choosing a sesame supplier is ultimately about risk: will the quality match the sample, will the documents clear customs, will the container ship on time? Kohenoor International has been answering those questions for buyers since 1957.
- Exporting Since 1957 — Nearly seven decades of continuous agricultural export experience from Hyderabad, Sindh, across three generations of the business.
- 70+ Countries Served — Our seeds, herbs, and spices ship to buyers in more than 70 countries, including sustained sesame volumes to East Asia.
- ISO 9001:2015 + HACCP Certified — Documented quality management and food-safety controls across sourcing, processing, and packing.
- 60+ Product Portfolio — Sesame, fennel, fenugreek, basil, alfalfa, and dozens more — consolidate multiple ingredients into one container from one audited supplier.
- Industry Memberships — Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), and the International Seed Federation (ISF).
- Full Traceability & Testing — Every lot is lab-tested and shipped with a Certificate of Analysis; samples are couriered before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sesame Seeds to China
What is the minimum order quantity for sesame seeds to China?
Our standard MOQ for Chinese buyers is 5 metric tons (MT), which fits comfortably in a single 20ft container alongside other cargo or as a part-load. Most Chinese oil crushers and food processors order full container loads of 18-19 MT (20ft FCL). Volume pricing applies for multi-container and contract orders.
How long does shipping take from Karachi to Qingdao, Tianjin, or Shanghai?
Direct sailings from Karachi Port (KICT/SAPT) reach Qingdao, Tianjin, and Shanghai in approximately 12-16 days depending on the shipping line and routing. We ship via major carriers including COSCO, Maersk, and MSC, and provide the booking confirmation and vessel schedule at the time of order confirmation.
What documents do you provide for GACC customs clearance in China?
Every shipment to China includes a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection, a Certificate of Analysis, a Certificate of Origin (CPFTA form to claim zero duty), commercial invoice, packing list, and Bill of Lading. Pakistani sesame is an approved origin with GACC, and we prepare all documentation to match GACC import-registration requirements so your customs broker can clear the cargo without delays.
Can I get sesame seed samples before placing a bulk order?
Yes. We courier 500 g to 2 kg samples of natural white, hulled, or black sesame to China within 5-7 days so your lab can verify purity, oil content, moisture, and FFA before you commit to a bulk order. Sample specifications match the commercial lots we ship.
What payment terms do you accept for Chinese buyers?
We accept T/T (telegraphic transfer, typically 30% advance with balance against scanned shipping documents) and irrevocable LC at sight from recognized banks. For established repeat buyers we can discuss CAD (cash against documents) terms. All prices are quoted FOB Karachi, CFR, or CIF Chinese ports in USD.
