Segment Analysis of Sesame Oil Market: Products, Applications, and End-Users

In Business Insights
September 25, 2025

Global Sesame Oil market size was valued at USD 3.91 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 4.12 billion in 2025 to USD 5.56 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.

Sesame oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds through pressing or extraction processes. This versatile oil boasts a rich nutty flavor, high smoke point, and nutritional benefits including antioxidants like sesamin and sesamol, along with essential fatty acids. Its stability and health-promoting properties make it a staple in cooking, while its emollient qualities extend its use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The sesame oil market, supported by rising demand for natural and healthy ingredients, plays a key role in global food trends, wellness products, and personal care formulations. Growth is driven by the surge in Asian cuisine popularity worldwide, health-focused diets emphasizing anti-inflammatory oils, and expanding applications in skincare and medicinal preparations.

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Segmentation by Product Type

The sesame oil market can be divided into four key product categories:

1. White Sesame Oil

White sesame oil, extracted from unhulled or hulled white sesame seeds, offers a mild flavor and light color, making it suitable for everyday cooking, dressings, and baking. Its neutral profile allows versatility in recipes without overpowering other ingredients.

  • Market Insight: White sesame oil remains a foundational product, appealing to both home cooks and food processors due to its affordability and broad applicability. In regions like India and China, it constitutes the bulk of domestic consumption, though global demand is pushing producers to enhance purity standards to meet international health certifications.

  • Trend: With the rise of clean-label products, refined and cold-pressed variants of white sesame oil are gaining favor in export markets, where consumers prioritize minimal processing for retained nutrients.

2. Black Sesame Oil

Black sesame oil, derived from black sesame seeds, features a deeper color and more intense, robust flavor, often used in traditional Asian dishes, stir-fries, and medicinal preparations for its higher antioxidant content.

  • Market Insight: This segment is experiencing accelerated growth in wellness-oriented markets, particularly in North America and Europe, driven by interest in superfoods and traditional remedies. Its premium pricing reflects the perceived superior nutritional value, including higher levels of sesamin.

  • Trend: Fusion cuisines and natural health supplements are boosting black sesame oil’s adoption, with manufacturers in Asia expanding production to supply diaspora communities and gourmet food sectors.

3. Toasted Sesame Oil

Toasted sesame oil undergoes a roasting process for the seeds before extraction, resulting in a fragrant, nutty aroma ideal for finishing dishes, marinades, and dipping sauces rather than high-heat cooking.

  • Market Insight: Toasted sesame oil is the fastest-growing product segment, fueled by the global proliferation of Asian-inspired recipes in restaurants and home kitchens. Its distinctive taste profile commands higher margins, especially in the food service industry.

  • Trend: Premium artisanal brands are collaborating with chefs to develop specialty blends, capitalizing on the premiumization wave in edible oils and enhancing shelf presence in upscale retail channels.

4. Refined Sesame Oil

Refined sesame oil is processed to remove impurities, yielding a clearer, more stable product with extended shelf life, suitable for industrial applications, frying, and products requiring neutral taste.

  • Market Insight: Refined sesame oil holds strong demand in the food processing sector for its consistency and cost-effectiveness, particularly in large-scale production of snacks and convenience foods. The segment benefits from advancements in refining technology that preserve essential nutrients.

  • Trend: As sustainability concerns rise, producers are optimizing refining methods to reduce waste, meeting regulatory pressures in key markets like the EU and appealing to eco-conscious buyers.

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Segmentation by Application

Applications define the true value of sesame oil. Each industry leverages the oil’s unique attributes—nutritional richness, stability, and emollient properties—to address specific needs.

1. Food Industry

The food industry is the largest consumer of sesame oil, utilizing it in cooking oils, flavorings, baked goods, and processed foods for its taste enhancement and health benefits.

  • Insight: Sesame oil adds authentic flavor to stir-fries, salads, and sauces, particularly in Asian cuisines, while its antioxidants help extend product shelf life in packaged goods.

  • Trend: The boom in ready-to-eat meals and ethnic food exports from Asia is heightening demand, with manufacturers incorporating it into health-labeled products to attract wellness-focused consumers.

2. Pharmaceutical

In pharmaceuticals, sesame oil acts as a carrier in topical creams, oral supplements, and injectables, valued for its non-comedogenic nature and anti-inflammatory effects.

  • Insight: Its biocompatibility makes it ideal for drug delivery systems, especially in Ayurvedic and traditional medicines where it’s used for joint health and skin conditions.

  • Trend: Growing research into natural excipients is expanding its role in modern formulations, with clinical trials highlighting its efficacy in reducing oxidative stress.

3. Cosmetic and Personal Care

The cosmetic sector employs sesame oil in moisturizers, hair oils, and sunscreens for its hydrating, antioxidant, and UV-protective qualities.

  • Insight: As a natural emollient, it penetrates deeply to nourish skin and hair, appealing to clean beauty trends and vegan formulations.

  • Trend: The surge in organic skincare lines is driving adoption, with brands in Europe and North America blending it into anti-aging serums for its sesamol content.

4. Industrial

Industrial uses include lubricants, paints, and biofuels, where sesame oil’s high viscosity and stability provide performance advantages.

  • Insight: Though smaller than food applications, this segment offers steady demand in niche areas like bio-based lubricants replacing synthetic options.

  • Trend: Sustainability initiatives are promoting sesame oil in green chemistry, particularly in regions pushing for renewable industrial feedstocks.

5. Others

Other applications encompass aromatherapy, animal feed additives, and research uses, tapping into sesame oil’s therapeutic and nutritional profiles.

  • Insight: Emerging uses in nutraceuticals and pet wellness products are creating new revenue streams, supported by studies on its omega-6 benefits.

  • Trend: Innovation in functional additives is seeing sesame oil integrated into supplements for immune support, aligning with post-pandemic health priorities.

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Segmentation by End-User

1. Industrial Users

Industrial users, including food processors and manufacturers, represent the largest end-user group for sesame oil, relying on bulk supplies for production.

  • Insight: Large-scale operations value its consistency for flavoring and preservation, especially in snack foods and condiments.

  • Trend: Automation in processing plants is increasing volumes, with Asia-Pacific industries leading due to proximity to raw materials.

2. Food Service Providers

Restaurants, hotels, and catering services use sesame oil for authentic Asian dishes and fusion menus, emphasizing quality and flavor.

  • Insight: The shift to diverse menus in global chains is elevating demand, particularly for toasted varieties in high-end dining.

  • Trend: Delivery and takeout trends post-pandemic are sustaining growth, with suppliers offering portioned packaging for efficiency.

3. Retail Consumers

Retail consumers purchase sesame oil for home cooking, health remedies, and personal care, drawn to premium and organic options.

  • Insight: E-commerce and specialty stores are key channels, with urban millennials driving sales through recipe trends on social media.

  • Trend: Health awareness is boosting small-pack sales, as consumers experiment with sesame oil in salads and wellness routines.

4. Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies

These companies incorporate sesame oil into formulations for its therapeutic and moisturizing benefits.

  • Insight: Compliance with natural ingredient regulations is favoring sesame oil over synthetic alternatives in product development.

  • Trend: R&D investments are focusing on bioactives, expanding its use in targeted therapies and luxury beauty lines.

5. Research Institutions

Labs and academic centers use sesame oil in studies on nutrition, antioxidants, and material science.

  • Insight: While volume is low, this segment influences innovation, with findings on health benefits informing commercial products.

  • Trend: Collaborative projects on sustainable oils are increasing procurement, particularly for high-purity grades.

The Sesame Oil market is best understood through its segmentation landscape. By product type, the shift is toward toasted and black varieties, driven by flavor preferences in food and wellness sectors. By application, the food industry dominates, but cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are emerging as dynamic growth areas. By end-user, industrial users lead, but retail consumers and food services provide critical demand momentum.

Read Full Report Here:
Sesame Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report

Download FREE Sample Report:
Sesame Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report