How to import sesame seeds from Nigeria.

Why do buyers come to Nigeria for sesame?

Nigerian sesame is prized for two things: the whiteness and oil content of seed from the central belt (Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba) and the sheer scale of the crop across the north. Food processors buy Nigerian natural white for tahini and halva; crushers value its oil yield; and bakeries buy colour-sorted and hulled grades for topping and confectionery.

The trade runs on a well-worn export infrastructure: aggregation markets across the belt, cleaning and sortex facilities, independent laboratories, international inspection agencies at Lagos, and regular container sailings from Apapa and Tin Can Island to Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Step one — decide the grade and specification

Nigerian sesame is offered in three main export grades. Which one you need depends entirely on the end use:

Step two — send a specification, get a formal quotation

A serious exporter quotes against a written specification, not a WhatsApp message that says "best price sesame". State the grade, purity, moisture, quantity in containers or metric tonnes, destination port and preferred Incoterm. FOB Lagos is the Nigerian standard, with CFR/CIF quoted to main ports on request.

Expect a formal quotation naming the specification, packing, shipment window, payment terms and validity. A quotation without a specification attached is a red flag, not a convenience.

Step three — contract, inspection and payment terms

Once commercial terms agree, they are recorded in a sales contract: specification, price, Incoterm, shipment period, documents, inspection and payment. First trades between new counterparties commonly use a documentary letter of credit (L/C) or a cash-against-documents structure; some buyers prefer a part-advance with balance against copy documents. There is no single correct answer. What matters is that the mechanism is written into the contract.

Pre-shipment inspection is your strongest protection as a buyer. SGS, Intertek and Cotecna all operate at Lagos and at origin warehouses; name your agency in the contract and make shipment subject to their certificate of weight and quality. Reputable exporters welcome this, because it protects both sides.

The documents that accompany a Nigerian sesame shipment

A complete export document set from Nigeria comprises:

• —Commercial invoice and packing list
• —Bill of lading (couriered ahead of the vessel or telex-released, per contract)
• —Certificate of analysis — from an independent laboratory, per lot
• —Certificate of origin — chamber-certified
• —Phytosanitary certificate — issued by the Nigerian quarantine service
• —Fumigation certificate — pre-sailing
• —Pre-shipment inspection certificate, where contracted

When should you buy Nigerian sesame?

Harvest runs October to December across the belt, with new-crop arrivals at aggregation markets from late November and the deepest supply from November to March. Forward bookings for first arrivals typically open from August. Buying against the new crop generally gives the best combination of freshness, availability and price discovery; late-season buying draws on carried stock and needs closer quality attention, particularly on moisture and free fatty acids.

What are the main risks when importing sesame from Nigeria?

The two failure modes buyers actually encounter are quality drift between sample and shipment, and payment fraud by parties impersonating genuine exporters. Both have standard defences: contract against a sealed sample with third-party inspection at loading, and verify banking details by a second channel before remitting any funds. Deal with exporters who put their company name, specification and terms in writing, and who expect you to check them.