Argentina Barley Export Market -- HS Code 100390 Trade Data & Price Trend (May 2025)

Argentina Barley Export (HS 100390) Key Takeaways

Argentina's barley exports under HS Code 100390 in May 2025 are dominated by undifferentiated bulk barley, with 66% of value concentrated in a single sub-code, reflecting commodity pricing. The market is in sharp decline, with export value dropping to $47.95 million amid volatility linked to policy shifts and seasonal challenges. Brazil is the key buyer, accounting for 44.5% of exports, suggesting a reliance on high-value regional demand. This analysis, covering May 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Barley Export (HS 100390) Background

What is HS Code 100390?

HS Code 100390 refers to barley, a key cereal grain used primarily in animal feed, brewing, and food production. Its global demand remains stable due to its versatility in livestock nutrition and malt production for beverages. Barley is a critical commodity in agricultural trade, with Argentina being a major supplier.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina's barley export sector faces heightened scrutiny as trade policies shift, including recent suspensions of tax exclusions for large importing companies [Global Trade Alert]. This policy change could impact Argentina's competitiveness in global barley markets, where it holds a significant position as a top exporter. Monitoring hs code 100390 trade data is essential to assess how these measures affect export volumes and pricing. Argentina's barley export strategy must adapt to maintain its market share amid evolving trade barriers. Vigilance is critical to navigate these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Argentina Barley Export (HS 100390) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's barley exports in May 2025 totaled $47.95 million, representing a sharp contraction in the hs code 100390 value trend after several months of volatility. This performance underscores a significant downturn from the stronger figures seen earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Barley Export trend showed pronounced swings in early 2025, with export value surging to $408.27 million in February before plummeting to $208.20 million in March and a modest recovery to $213.78 million in April. This volatility aligns with broader economic uncertainties, including policy shifts such as Argentina's temporary suspension of internal tax exclusions for large importing companies in late February, which may have contributed to trade disruptions and reduced export momentum [Global Trade Alert]. Given barley's seasonal harvest cycles and sensitivity to global demand, the sequential decline into May likely reflects compounded challenges in production or logistics, rather than isolated monthly factors.

Argentina Barley Export (HS 100390) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Argentina's export of barley under HS Code 100390 is highly concentrated in one sub-code, with 10039010100 ("Cereals; barley, other than seed") accounting for 66% of the export value and 64% of the weight, according to yTrade data. This sub-code dominates the market, and its unit price is approximately 0.25 USD per kilogram, consistent with bulk commodity pricing. A minor sub-code, 10039010290, represents less than 0.1% of volume and value, and it is isolated from the main analysis due to its negligible share.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes, including 10039080100, all share the same product description of "Cereals; barley, other than seed" and have similar unit prices around 0.22 to 0.25 USD per kilogram. This uniformity indicates that Argentina's HS Code 100390 exports consist of undifferentiated, bulk barley without significant value-add stages or quality grades. The structure points to a trade in fungible commodities, where products are likely priced against market indices rather than brand or processing differences.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the high concentration and commodity nature of Argentina's HS Code 100390 export suggest that pricing power is limited to volume and cost efficiency rather than product differentiation. Exporters should focus on competitive pricing and supply chain optimization to maintain market share. Analyzing HS Code 100390 trade data reveals opportunities in leveraging Argentina's bulk export capabilities for stable, index-linked trading.

Check Detailed HS Code 100390 Breakdown

Argentina Barley Export (HS 100390) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Brazil is the dominant destination for Argentina's Barley exports in May 2025, holding a 44.53% value share and 43.05% quantity share. The value share slightly exceeds the quantity share, suggesting that Brazil may be importing higher-grade or processed Barley from Argentina. With a high frequency share of 42.31%, shipments to Brazil are frequent, which is typical for agricultural commodities requiring regular supply.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners can be grouped into two clusters based on trade profiles. The High-Yield Cluster includes Brazil, India, and Colombia, where value shares are marginally higher than quantity shares, indicating a preference for quality Barley, possibly for human consumption or brewing. The Volume Cluster consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, where quantity shares surpass value shares, pointing to bulk purchases likely for animal feed or industrial processing, common in commodity trade.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's Barley export performance, focus on maintaining strong ties with high-value markets like Brazil and India to leverage premium pricing. For bulk buyers in the Volume Cluster, such as Saudi Arabia, optimize logistics and shipping costs to support large-scale orders. Analyzing HS Code 100390 trade data can help identify trends and opportunities for growth in these key markets.

Table: Argentina Barley (HS 100390) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Barley Market Operation and Expansion

• Monitor HS Code 100390 trade data daily to track global barley price indices and adjust Argentina Barley Export pricing accordingly, because its commodity nature means prices are index-driven and margins depend on market timing.
• Target sales to high-value markets like Brazil and India by highlighting quality consistency in Argentina's Barley Export, as their higher value share indicates willingness to pay a slight premium for reliable human-consumption or brewing-grade barley.
• Streamline the Barley supply chain for bulk buyers like Saudi Arabia by negotiating long-term shipping contracts, because their volume-focused purchases require cost-efficient logistics to protect profitability on low-margin orders.
• Use buyer frequency data from HS Code 100390 trade analytics to anticipate order cycles and align inventory with demand spikes, preventing stockouts or overstock and ensuring supply chain responsiveness.
• Analyze trade flow shifts in HS Code 100390 data quarterly to identify emerging markets or demand changes, enabling proactive adjustments in Argentina Barley Export strategy to capture new growth opportunities early.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Barley Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Barley Export 2025 May?

Argentina's barley exports in May 2025 saw a sharp contraction to $47.95 million, continuing a volatile trend from earlier months. This decline aligns with policy shifts like Argentina's temporary suspension of tax exclusions for large importers, which disrupted trade momentum.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Barley (HS Code 100390) 2025 May?

Brazil dominates as the top destination, accounting for 44.53% of export value and 43.05% of quantity. Other key markets include India, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, forming two distinct trade clusters.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Barley Export?

Price differences stem from market preferences: Brazil, India, and Colombia (High-Yield Cluster) pay marginally higher prices for quality barley, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE (Volume Cluster) prioritize bulk purchases at lower unit rates.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Barley export market?

Exporters should prioritize cost efficiency and supply chain optimization to compete in this undifferentiated bulk market. Strengthening ties with high-value markets like Brazil and India can help leverage premium pricing.

Q5. What does this Argentina Barley export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers in Brazil and India can expect stable, quality-focused supply, while bulk purchasers like Saudi Arabia benefit from Argentina's competitive pricing for large-scale orders.

Q6. How is Barley typically used in this trade flow?

Argentina's barley exports under HS Code 100390 are primarily undifferentiated bulk commodities, likely used for animal feed or industrial processing, with minor higher-grade volumes potentially destined for brewing or human consumption.