Global sesame oil market shows divergent trends in Q3 2026

The sesame oil market experienced divergent price trends in the third quarter of 2026. Prices rose in the United States and Germany, while China saw its first price decline in a year.

In the United States, price increases were driven by rising producer and consumer costs, alongside strong demand from the healthy cooking, plant-based food, and pharmaceutical sectors. Although high sesame stocks in August partially offset these pressures, rising raw material and distribution costs maintained upward momentum.

In Germany, prices generally trended upward over the last four quarters, despite a brief decline in early 2026 caused by a strong Brazilian harvest. In China, the Q3 price drop follows a period of steady gains caused by tight global supplies resulting from weather-related crop damage in Sudan and Pakistan, as well as reduced domestic production.

Beyond culinary use, sesame oil remains a critical component in the cosmetics and injectable medicine industries. Market stability remains subject to volatile factors including crop yields in Sudan and Brazil, port stocks in Qingdao, and global energy prices.