U.S. imports of Sesame Seeds (SITC 22250) 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 are a globally traded oilseed and food ingredient used in tahini, baked goods, confectionery, and sesame oil production, with the US relying heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. FDA food-safety oversight is the primary admissibility framework, and sesame became a major labeling and allergen compliance issue following the FASTER Act of 2021, which designated sesame as the ninth major food allergen in the US — a regulatory shift that affects imported sesame seeds and products derived from them. Pesticide residue compliance is also a recurring concern, as FDA has detained sesame shipments from multiple origins for pesticide violations.
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
The FASTER Act, effective January 1, 2023, designated sesame as a major food allergen under US law. Importers of sesame seeds destined for food use must ensure that downstream labeling complies with allergen declaration requirements. Additionally, facilities handling sesame must address cross-contact controls, which affects how importers document and communicate allergen status to US buyers.
FDA has issued import alerts for sesame seeds from certain origins due to repeated detections of pesticide residues — including ethylene oxide — that exceed US tolerances. Importers should request pesticide residue test certificates from accredited laboratories before shipment and verify whether the origin country is subject to an active FDA import alert, which can result in automatic detention. Consulting a licensed customs broker or FDA regulatory specialist is advisable given the complexity of admissibility review.
Basic heading 85 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 22250 · $5.9M of $3.8B
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · August 2026
origin
India and Guatemala together supply 68% of it. Nigeria pays 12.5% duty; Bolivia 0.0%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
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.