Indian Sesame Seeds for Iraq's Tahini and Halva Makers
Natural, hulled and black sesame from Gujarat, tested lot by lot and documented for Iraqi customs.
Elysium Agri Corporation exports natural, hulled and black sesame seeds from Gujarat, India, to importers, tahini (rashi) producers and halva makers in Iraq. Each lot is cleaned at a specialist unit, tested at an NABL-accredited lab and loaded at Mundra, Kandla or Pipavav for Umm Qasr.
India shipped about US$20 million of oilseeds in the trade group that includes sesame to Iraq in 2025. For your order, two things matter most: a seed that suits your mill, and a document set that Iraqi customs accepts the first time.
Sesame Grades We Supply to Iraq
| Grade / form | Typical specification | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Natural white sesame | Machine-cleaned; purity, moisture and oil content as per your specification | Tahini (rashi) after your own hulling, oil pressing, wholesale |
| Hulled sesame | Hulled and dried; colour, purity and moisture as per your specification | Tahini, halva, bakery topping |
| Black sesame | Machine-cleaned; purity as per your specification | Bakery, confectionery, spice traders |
What Sesame Needs to Enter Iraq
COSQC tests foodstuffs at the border and runs Iraq's pre-shipment conformity programme. The Ministry of Trade issues your import licence. Please confirm current rules with your clearing agent.
- A Certificate of Conformity is required for regulated products, and food is a listed category. We check with the inspection body whether bulk raw sesame is on the current list.
- The commercial invoice and certificate of origin are stamped by the chamber of commerce, legalised by the Iraqi embassy and signed in wet ink. Iraqi customs does not recognise digital signatures.
- A health certificate from India travels with the consignment.
- Marks are printed directly on the bag, not on removable tags: product, origin, net weight, lot number and production date.
- India and Iraq have no preferential trade agreement, so the general tariff applies. See the landed cost calculator.
Packing and Shipping to Umm Qasr
- Umm Qasr is the main container port, with Khor Al Zubair as a second option. Gulf routes are disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so routing and transit are confirmed with each quote.
- Allow time for inspection and embassy legalisation before the vessel date.
- Plan your load with the container load calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sesame should I order for tahini production?
That depends on your process. If you hull the seed yourself, order natural white sesame. If you roast and mill directly, order hulled sesame. Send your target colour, purity and moisture, or a reference sample.
Can I check the lot before it leaves India?
Yes. Each lot carries a Certificate of Analysis from an NABL-accredited lab. You may appoint SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek to inspect at loading.
Who issues the Certificate of Conformity?
An inspection body appointed under the COSQC programme issues it, after inspection and testing in India. The appointed list can change, so tell us which inspection company your clearing agent prefers.
What payment terms apply to sesame orders for Iraq?
Payment terms are agreed with each order. Check our IEC and GSTIN first at Verify Elysium.
Related Pages
Last reviewed: October 2026