Sesame Market Bulletin in the Gambia and Senegal , January 31th, 2013

Hello everybody,

In the Gambia, the season is in full swing and prices have significantly evolved in the North Bank Region where pure white sesame seed is sold at 30 Dalasis/kg at farm gate.  The other transactions done by producers are estimated at between 22 and 27 Dalasis/kg at farm gate.

In Senegal, the regions of Sedhiou, Kolda and Ziguinchor are now actually immersed in the marketing season.  The massive arrival of buyers from the central regions has caused a fierce competition between buyers which led to a significant rises in sale prices at farm gate that increased from 24.5 to 28 Dalasis/kg. In some areas, some buyers offer prices ranging from 31.61 to 35.12 Dalasis/kg at farm gate.
 
In the regions of Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack and Tambacounda, the marketing season is over; occasional transactions are noted among large traders who sell their sesame seeds at 45.5 Dalasis/kg Producers who still keep small stocks of sesame sell their product between 31.5 and 35 Dalasis/kg at farm gate. However, all buyers have moved to the southern part of the country.

In the Gambia, the competition between buyers (Indians and bana-bana) is going tougher; the upward trend is continuing and should be the same in the coming weeks.

In the regions of Kolda, Sedhiou and Ziguinchor, the upward trend might continue for the next weeks.

SESAME MARKET IN WEST AFRICA

In Burkina Faso, the latest sales are still between 37 and 42 Dalasis/kg at farm gate and between 45.5 and 56 Dalasis/kg at wholesalers’ stores in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.  Many exporters have left the country and transactions tend to disappear.

INTERNATIONAL SESAME MARKET

This week, the international sesame market still remains stable.

In India, the quotation on the NCDEX remains quite stable around US $1,900/t (64,6 D/kg). Export offers are at US $2,100/t (71,4 D/kg) for the white washed sesame seed and at US $2,400/t (81,6 D/kg) for the sesame seeds mechanically hulled.

In Ethiopia, prices of the white washed sesame seeds  have recovered this week up to US $1,700/t (57,8D/kg) with traded volumes which have remained particularly diminished again this week, compared to previous years.  The fact that the volumes sold in Ethiopia remain very low may indicate that this year the production is decreasing in the leading sesame exporting country in Africa.  Even if there is no available information on the reason of the current impaired production, it could also explain part of the upsurge of prices during the last month.

World prices of other oilseeds are now experiencing a slight increase because there are concerns over soya harvests in Argentina and in Brazil.

ANALYST POINT OF VIEW

We recommend producers in Southern Senegal and in the Gambia to sell 75% of their outputs as soon as they are offered a price of 30 Dalasis/kg. If they are offered to sell at 35 Dalasis/kg, we advise them to sell all of their stocks in order not to take further risks