U.S. imports of Sesame Seeds (HS 120740) totaled $5.9M in August 2026, imported from 34 countries.
Importers of Sesame Seeds paid $526K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.91% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Sesame Seeds imports of $5.9M in August 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $5.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSesame seeds — traded whole or broken and used in food manufacturing, bakery applications, and tahini production — enter the US under a heading that distinguishes certified organic product (1207400010) from conventional sesame (1207400090), reflecting growing buyer demand for organic certification documentation. India is the dominant supplier to the US market, followed by Guatemala and Pakistan. Because sesame is a food commodity, FDA prior notice and country-of-origin labeling requirements apply, and shipments are subject to FDA admissibility review. Consult a licensed customs broker or FDA for current entry requirements.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
227 import shipments a month
Line 1207400010 covers sesame seeds that carry USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certification or an equivalent recognized foreign organic certification, while 1207400090 covers all other (conventional) sesame seeds. Importers must have valid organic certificates in hand at entry to claim the organic classification.
FDA has historically issued import alerts on sesame seeds from certain origins due to Salmonella contamination concerns. Importers should check the FDA's active import alert list for the specific country of origin before shipment and ensure suppliers have robust food-safety programs in place.
Subheading 2 of 10 in heading 1207
Subheading 120740 · $5.9M of $30.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$5.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$578KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $62.8M of Sesame Seeds and exported $19.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1207400090 | Sesame Seeds, Whether or not Broken, NESOI | $5.6M | 9.40% | 85.63% | $522K |
| 1207400010 | Sesame Seeds, Whether or not Broken, Cert Org | $351K | 1.08% | 8.65% | $4K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1207400000 | Sesame Seeds, Whether or not Broken | $578K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
India and Guatemala together supply 68% of it. Nigeria pays 12.5% duty; Bolivia 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
18.9% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.91% of imports for consumption.