Nigeria has quietly become one of the most reliable sources of sesame seeds in the world — and Turkey can’t get enough of them. Between the tahini factories, bakeries, and sesame oil producers, Turkey imports over $200 million worth of sesame seeds every year. That’s a massive market sitting right there, waiting.
At Abubakar Group Ltd., we didn’t just theorize about this opportunity — we ran the numbers on an actual export operation and the results speak for themselves.
The Numbers From a Real Operation
We exported 18 tonnes of sesame seeds in a single 20DV container. Here’s how it broke down:
Total Expenses: $20,881.00
Revenue: $27,000.00
Net Profit: $6,119.00
Profit Margin: 29.3%
A 29% margin on a single container shipment. And this is just one run — scale it up and you start to see why so many Nigerian entrepreneurs are quietly getting into this space.
What Makes This Work
The key is product quality. Turkish buyers are serious about their standards — clean seeds, well-sorted, compliant with Turkish Food Codex requirements. If you can hit that bar consistently, you’ll build relationships that keep orders coming.
Logistics matter too. Bulk shipping and reliable freight partners are what keep your costs down. The margin you saw above was achieved by being deliberate about every expense in the supply chain.
For market access, start by connecting with Turkish wholesalers and tahini manufacturers directly. Platforms like Alibaba work. Trade fairs like the Istanbul Food Expo are even better — the relationships you build in person convert to long-term contracts far more reliably than cold outreach.
The Real Challenges (And How to Handle Them)
Logistics costs can eat into your margin if you’re not careful — bulk shipping is your best defence. Competition from other African exporters means quality is non-negotiable. And Turkish import regulations require documentation, so having a local agent on the ground in Turkey is worth every kobo.
Is It Worth It?
If you can source quality sesame seeds, manage your logistics properly, and build real buyer relationships — yes, absolutely. This is one of the cleaner export opportunities available to Nigerian businesses right now. Low barriers, clear demand, and proven margins.
Ready to start exporting sesame seeds from Nigeria? We’ve already done it — the operation, the logistics, the buyer relationships. We know exactly what works and what doesn’t. Partner with Abubakar Mall and let us help you launch your first shipment, build your buyer network, and start generating real export income. This opportunity won’t wait — email us at sales@abubakarmall.com to get started today.