This is because Ethiopian sesame and Sudanese sesame are relatively recognized in China, which shows that the sesame from these two countries has quality or price advantages. Compared with other African countries, these two advantages are relatively obvious.

First of all, the main advantages of Ethiopian sesame seeds are the following two points:

1. In terms of quality, Ethiopia generally imports first- and second-grade sesame seeds, which are of good quality and good taste, and belong to the domestic market. Products that are relatively recognized in the market have a better reputation.

2. In terms of tariffs, Ethiopia’s sesame seeds have benefited from China’s tariff-free treatment, and direct exports to China have increased significantly. China imports sesame from India, Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries every year. The amount of sesame imported from Africa accounts for 85% of China’s total sesame imports, almost all of which come from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania, and it is highly dependent on Ethiopia.

Secondly, the advantages of Sudanese sesame seeds mainly include the following two points:

1. In terms of price, Sudanese sesame seeds have an advantage in price and are relatively recognized in the domestic market, although the quality is not as good as that of Ethiopia. The sesame seeds are good. Most of the other African sesame seeds have more impurities and their quality is unstable.

2. In terms of tariffs, Sudan’s sesame seeds also benefit from China’s tariff-free treatment.

Extended information:

Ethiopia is the largest sesame producer in Africa and the fourth largest sesame producer in the world. Its sesame production has surpassed China and Myanmar, becoming an important emerging country in global sesame production. Ethiopian white sesame seeds are world-famous, with an oil yield rate of over 50%. Ethiopia began exporting sesame in 2000. It is a major cash crop and has shown a significant growth trend in terms of both quantity and value.

Ethiopia has become China’s largest source of sesame imports. According to statistics, China imported 933,000 tons of sesame in 2016, worth US$959 million. Among them, 904,000 tons of sesame seeds were imported from Africa, worth US$930 million, accounting for 96.9% of China’s total imports. The sesame imports from Ethiopia amounted to 304,000 tons and US$328 million, accounting for 33.6% and 35.3% of the total imports from Africa.

From January to July 2017, China imported 459,000 tons of sesame, valued at US$460 million, of which 443,000 tons of sesame imported from Africa, valued at US$440 million, accounted for 96.5% of China's total imports. Among them, 131,000 tons of sesame seeds were imported from Ethiopia, worth 153 million US dollars, accounting for 29.6% and 34.8% of the total imports from Africa.

International Business News-Ethiopia has become an important source of sesame imports for China

China-Africa Trade Research Center-Africa’s sesame industry development potential accounts for more than half of global production