Brazilian Sesame Production Increasing Especially in Mato Grosso

One of the newer crops in Brazil is sesame production. Conab is estimating that Brazil will produce 292,700 tons of sesame during the 2023/24 growing season, which is up 68% compared to 2022/23. Brazil planted 585,500 hectares of sesame in 2023/24 (1.44 million acres), which was up 62% compared to the prior year with an average yield of 500 kg/ha (approximately 450 lbs/ac).

Sesame is generally planted as a second crop after a first crop of soybeans has been harvested and Mato Grosso is the largest sesame producing state in Brazil with an estimated production of 191,000 tons, or 66% of Brazil’s total production. The municipality of Canarana in eastern Mato Grosso is the largest sesame producing municipality in the state responsible for 41.8% of the state’s production.

According to the vice president of Eastern Aprosoja/MT, Canarana is considered the capital of sesame production in Brazil because its soils and climate are conducive for sesame production. The municipality also lies at a lower elevation which favors sesame production.

Sesame is considered an attractive alternative to safrinha corn in the state especially when corn prices are low.

Tags: Brazil, estimate, Production, yield, sesame