Mozambique sesame oil production represents a significant opportunity to transform raw seeds valued at $1/kg into premium oil products reaching up to $25/liter. By processing locally, the value chain shifts from raw material export to high-value goods, supporting local farmers and developing regional infrastructure.
Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sesame production | 80,000 tons/year |
| Oil content | 50% |
| Potential oil production | 40,000 tons |
| Sesame oil price (cooking) | $5-7/liter |
| Sesame oil price (cosmetic) | $12-20/liter |
| Sesame oil price (pharma) | $20-30/liter |
| Current processing | <10% locally |
| By-product (cake) value | $0.40/kg |
The Oil Extraction Economics
Processing sesame seeds allows for significant value capture at each stage. When 1 kg of sesame is processed, it yields roughly 0.5 liters of oil, alongside valuable by-products.
| Stage | Price |
|---|---|
| Farmer sells sesame | $1.00/kg |
| Cold press → oil (50% yield) | $5.00/liter |
| Refined for cosmetics | $15.00/liter |
| Pharmaceutical grade | $25.00/liter |
1 kg sesame at $1 → 0.5 liter oil → $2.50-12.50 from oil alone. Plus $0.20 from cake.
Processing Infrastructure
Technological advancements, such as localized cold-press oil plants, could modernize agriculture in regions like Zambezia, where Maputo Bridge Capital works with the COJAZ cooperative. A theoretical $20,000 facility includes a cold press, filter press, and bottling line to scale production.
Sesame Oil Markets
| Market | Volume Potential | Price/Liter | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic cooking | 5,000 tons | $5 | None |
| Export (food grade) | 10,000 tons | $7 | ISO 22000 |
| Cosmetics (global) | 2,000 tons | $15 | Organic cert |
| Pharmaceuticals | 500 tons | $25 | GMP |
| Ayurvedic medicine (India) | 1,000 tons | $12 | Traditional |
The Nature of a Seed
A picture guide to choosing, testing, saving and planting seed in Mozambique, with lessons from Asia. Read the cloth test and the salt jar test free.
PDF ebook, instant download. $5 of every copy buys seed for a farmer.
Impact on the Farmer's Season
For a smallholder farmer, the ability to access local processing hubs means a more reliable market for their harvest. By moving from selling raw, low-margin seeds to participating in a system that adds value locally, the farmer's season transitions from simple subsistence to sustainable agricultural production. This shift empowers farmers to improve their yields and ensures that a greater portion of the crop's value remains within their community.
Related guide: Climate-smart agriculture in Mozambique: 6 technologies helping farmers beat drought, floods and cyclones
Frequently asked questions
What determines the price of sesame oil? The final price is determined by the processing grade, ranging from simple food-grade extraction for cooking to highly refined pharmaceutical-grade oil.
What is the value of the sesame by-product? The remaining sesame cake, produced after oil extraction, acts as a high-protein feed supplement valued at $0.40/kg.
How much oil can one kilogram of sesame yield? With an oil content of approximately 50%, one kilogram of sesame seeds can produce 0.5 liters of oil.
Maputo Bridge Capital, founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, connects sponsors with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique, such as those in the COJAZ cooperative. A sponsor gives from $25, which goes directly to the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop, while the sponsor receives field photos and receipts. After harvest, farmers repay into a Community Fund to sponsor the next farmer. Sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible; 92% of your gift reaches the shop, and 8% covers verification. Please visit /sponsor-a-farmer-mozambique to sponsor a farmer today.