Sesame oil has begun to find its way into North American shopping baskets. As more consumers cook Korean food themselves or enjoy Korean barbecue (K-BBQ), demand for sesame oil, which enhances the flavor of Korean dishes, is also rising. Korean food companies are moving to expand in the North American market.
On the 19th, according to the Korea Customs Service, sesame oil exports from January to April this year totaled $6.14 million (about 9.2 billion won), up 37% from a year earlier. Export volume during the same period rose 47.6% to 657 tons (t). Both value and volume were record highs for the period. This growth is being led by the North American market. From January to April, sesame oil exports to the United States were $2.6 million (about 3.9 billion won), up 170.8% from a year earlier. Exports to Canada were $600,000 (about 900 million won), up 249%. The United States is the largest market, accounting for 41.7% of total sesame oil exports. The combined share of the United States and Canada amounts to 51.3% of total exports.
Behind the rise in sesame oil exports to North America is the increase in consumers who cook Korean food themselves. In the past, people mainly encountered K-food through finished goods such as ramen and gim, but recently, as more people try cooking at home following Korean recipes, consumption of cooking ingredients such as sesame oil, gochujang, and ssamjang has grown together.
A food industry official said, "As frozen kimbap has gained popularity at major U.S. supermarkets and warehouse clubs, more people are buying the ingredients and making it themselves. Sesame oil is one of those ingredients," adding, "Bibimbap has also taken root beyond restaurant menus as a Korean dish that is easy to make at home, and demand for sesame oil as a 'finishing oil' is increasing."
The K-BBQ boom also appears to have had an impact. As Korean barbecue restaurants have increased in North America in recent years, the way of dipping samgyeopsal and galbi in sesame oil with salt has spread, raising awareness of sesame oil. Jensen Huang, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Nvidia, who appeared on a broadcast while visiting Korea, also said, "I tried dipping samgyeopsal in sesame oil with salt, and it was really delicious."
The food industry is eyeing the North American market as the next stage of growth for sesame oil. The aim is to find new growth engines in the domestic sesame oil market, which has entered a mature phase.
Ottogi, which holds the No. 1 market share in Korea's sesame oil market, is moving to expand in North America. According to Ottogi, sesame oil sales in the United States from January to April this year increased about 10% from a year earlier. An Ottogi official said, "Sales through online channels such as Amazon are also inching up," adding, "Given that many local consumers still don't know how to use sesame oil, we plan to focus on raising awareness of sesame oil and expanding placements in local distribution channels."
CJ CheilJedang is focusing on its sauces and seasonings business, including sesame oil, by leveraging the global distribution network built through the Bibigo brand. According to CJ CheilJedang, the overseas sales share of sesame oil has increased by 13 percentage points (p) over the past two years. In particular, centered on the United States, it plans to continue uncovering business opportunities for sauces and seasonings, including sesame oil, in key overseas markets to sustain growth. Daesang is also pouring effort into expanding in North America. According to Daesang, global sales of sesame oil increased about 60% over the five years from 2021 to 2025. It views North America, including the United States and Canada, as key export markets.
Choi Cheol, a professor in the Department of Consumer Economics at Sookmyung Women's University, said, "As K-food gains global recognition, interest in sesame oil is rising as well," adding, "Recently, as the wellness trend that pursues healthy eating has spread, the nutty flavor and healthy image of sesame oil are also standing out." Choi added, "In the long term, it could establish itself as an ingredient used in a variety of dishes, like olive oil."