The Paraguayan Sesame Exporters' Association (Capexse) has announced that this year's sesame harvest in Paraguay began earlier than usual, with both quality and yields showing very positive results.

Gilberto Osorio, President of Capexse, stated that the sesame harvest in the eastern region is almost complete, with the exception of some areas of the white broom variety and black sesame. According to President Osorio, the sesame produced this year boasts "very excellent" quality in terms of purity, color, and uniformity.

Sesame harvesting is also progressing gradually in the western Chaco region. President Osorio explained that the mechanized cultivation method has notably expanded in the eastern region this year, and farmers are achieving good results from these new trials. Paraguay's sesame cultivation area is estimated to be approximately 50,000 hectares for confectionery varieties and about 80,000 hectares combined for mechanized cultivation varieties in the eastern and western regions. The total expected production is between 15,000 and 18,000 tons for confectionery varieties and between 15,000 and 20,000 tons for mechanized cultivation varieties.

President Osorio added, "Currently, we are accelerating the commercialization, refining process, and preparation for export of sesame."

However, he noted that the international market situation is somewhat stagnant compared to previous years, attributing this to increased competition from other sesame-producing countries and the existence of previous harvest inventories. Paraguayan sesame is exported to approximately 30 to 35 countries annually.

Paraguayan Sesame Industry Status and Outlook

Paraguay is one of the major sesame-producing countries in South America, where cultivation has traditionally been carried out by small-scale farmers. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of expanding mechanized cultivation to improve production efficiency. In particular, in line with the agricultural technology development and market changes in neighboring countries such as Brazil, the Paraguayan government and agricultural-related institutions are actively supporting the modernization of the sesame industry.

Paraguay's main sesame export varieties are divided into confectionery and oil extraction types. Confectionery sesame is in high demand mainly in European, North American, and Asian markets and is used as an ingredient in bread, cookies, and cereals. Oil extraction sesame is mainly exported to the Middle East and Africa and is processed into edible oil. Paraguayan sesame has consistently secured competitiveness in the international market due to its unique nutty flavor and rich nutritional content.

Recently, the international sesame market has been affected by various factors such as crop fluctuations in major producing countries like India, Sudan, and Myanmar, international oil prices, and exchange rates. In particular, production declines due to political instability or climate change in some countries sometimes act as a factor in raising international sesame prices. In addition, as interest in health increases, the nutritional value of sesame is being re-evaluated, which is expected to have a positive impact on long-term sesame demand growth.

Paraguay's Challenges Amid Intensifying Export Market Competition

As President Osorio mentioned, the current international sesame market is highly competitive. The active market penetration of major competitor countries and the inventory of previous harvests could pose a burden on Paraguayan sesame exports. Accordingly, Paraguay needs to maintain the production of high-quality sesame while making efforts to develop new export markets and expand its existing market share through differentiated marketing strategies.

At the government level, it will be necessary to establish comprehensive support policies such as providing education and support for sesame farmers to improve production technology and quality control, providing overseas market information, and easing export-related regulations. In addition, actively promoting the environmentally friendly production methods and high quality of Paraguayan sesame in the international market to strengthen its brand image is also an important task.

The Paraguayan Sesame Exporters' Association's rapid market analysis and proactive response strategy will enable the continued growth of the Paraguayan sesame industry even in a challenging international market environment. By building on the strength of high-quality sesame production and continuously striving to develop new markets and increase added value, Paraguay is expected to further solidify its position in the international sesame market.