Argentina Carbonates Export Market -- HS Code 2836 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s Carbonates Export under HS Code 2836 in April 2025 is dominated by high-value lithium carbonate, accounting for over 99% of export value, while lower-grade bulk materials make up the remainder. The market shows recovery, with a 7.4% month-over-month value increase, signaling stabilization after early-year volatility. Buyer concentration poses risk, as large, infrequent transactions dominate, leaving exports vulnerable to demand swings. China is the key destination, absorbing 85% of shipments, with premium pricing in markets like the U.S. and Japan offering margin potential. This analysis, covering April 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Background

What is HS Code 2836?

HS Code 2836 covers carbonates, peroxocarbonates (percarbonates), and commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate. These chemicals are widely used in industries such as agriculture (as fertilizers), food processing (as leavening agents), and water treatment (for pH adjustment). Global demand remains stable due to their essential role in multiple industrial applications.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently assigned a tariff quota of 3,650 tons of peanut paste for export to the U.S. in 2025, highlighting the country's active role in managing trade flows for key commodities [Aduana News]. This underscores the importance of monitoring Argentina's Carbonates Export under HS Code 2836, as similar trade policies could impact market dynamics. Argentina's strategic position as a supplier of industrial chemicals, combined with global demand for carbonates, necessitates vigilance in tracking hs code 2836 trade data. The April 2025 analysis period will be critical for assessing shifts in export volumes and pricing trends.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Carbonates exports in April 2025 reached a value of 152.50 million USD at a unit price of 16.20 USD per kilogram, marking a notable recovery from the lower performance in February and March.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Carbonates Export trend exhibited volatility in early 2025, with a sharp decline in February followed by a steady rebound through April. This sequential improvement, with value rising by 7.4% month-over-month from March, aligns with typical industrial demand cycles, such as post-quarter inventory builds in global manufacturing sectors. The hs code 2836 value trend's resilience may reflect broader macroeconomic factors, including potential currency fluctuations or stabilized supply chains, rather than specific policy impacts.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Argentina's export activities under HS Code 2836 are overwhelmingly dominated by lithium carbonate, which accounts for nearly the entire value and weight of shipments. According to yTrade data, lithium carbonate represents over 99% of the export value and 96% of the weight, with a unit price of 16.86 USD per kilogram, far exceeding other carbonates. This high unit price indicates a specialized, high-value product focus within Argentina's HS Code 2836 exports.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports consist of lower-value bulk commodities, primarily calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, with unit prices around 0.57 to 1.00 USD per kilogram, and a minor share of other carbonates at 9.67 USD per kilogram. This structure shows a clear split: lithium carbonate serves as a high-grade, finished chemical, while the others are basic, fungible materials often traded on commodity markets. Analyzing HS Code 2836 trade data reveals that Argentina's export profile is bifurcated between a premium product and standard industrial inputs.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Argentina holds significant pricing power in lithium carbonate due to its high value and market dominance, allowing for stronger negotiation and premium returns. Strategic focus should remain on capitalizing on this high-value segment, while the bulk carbonate exports offer limited leverage and represent a smaller opportunity. This analysis of Argentina's HS Code 2836 export structure suggests prioritizing investment in lithium-related production to maintain competitive advantage.

Table: Argentina HS Code 2836) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China is the dominant destination for Argentina's Carbonates exports in April 2025, accounting for 85.01% of the value and 82.81% of the weight. The value share slightly exceeds the weight share, indicating a demand for higher-grade or more processed versions of Carbonates. The high frequency of shipments at 56.99% supports consistent trade flows, typical for industrial chemical supplies.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners form three clusters based on trade profiles. The High-Yield Cluster includes the United States and Japan, where value shares (9.56% and 3.11%) outpace weight shares (7.62% and 3.08%), pointing to premium pricing for specialized industrial applications. The Volume Cluster is led by China, with significant bulk trade, while Chile and Bolivia show higher weight shares relative to value, suggesting raw material or lower-end Carbonates for processing. The Transactional Cluster features Mexico and Paraguay, with high frequency but low volume and value, indicating small, frequent shipments for local distribution or niche markets in Carbonates.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's Carbonates export performance, focus on capturing higher margins in markets like the United States and Japan by promoting premium product variants. For bulk buyers like China, optimize logistics to maintain cost-effective shipments. The trade data for HS Code 2836 shows no immediate policy shifts from the news, so strategies should rely on current market dynamics to stabilize and grow Argentina's Carbonates shipments.

Table: Argentina Carbonates (HS 2836) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Carbonates (HS 2836) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

In April 2025, the Argentina Carbonates Export buyers market is structured into four segments based on purchase value and frequency. According to yTrade data, the high-value low-frequency group dominates the value share, indicating that most trade value comes from large, infrequent transactions. This defines the typical trade for Argentina Carbonates Export buyers, with median transaction sizes pointing to bulk purchases.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 2836 buyers shows an intermediated market, where the dominant high-value low-frequency cluster likely involves trading companies or large industrial agents. Other segments include high-frequency low-value buyers, such as smaller regular purchasers, and low-value low-frequency ones, which may represent occasional or niche buyers. The Argentina Carbonates Export buyers' composition suggests a trade role centered around bulk deals with intermediaries.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentina's Carbonates Export, the buyer structure requires a sales strategy focused on nurturing relationships with key high-value buyers to mitigate volatility risks. The reliance on infrequent large purchases highlights a vulnerability to demand swings, so diversifying into more frequent smaller buyers could stabilize hs code 2836 trade data. Sales efforts should prioritize direct engagement with traders or end-users to secure steady export flows.

Check Full Carbonates Buyer lists

Action Plan for Carbonates Market Operation and Expansion

• Focus all premium product marketing on lithium carbonate to key high-value buyers in the United States and Japan, as the hs code 2836 trade data confirms these markets pay significantly higher unit prices for specialized industrial applications.
• Diversify the Argentina Carbonates Export buyer base by targeting high-frequency, low-volume clients to reduce reliance on a few large, infrequent shipments and stabilize revenue streams.
• Negotiate directly with major traders and end-users in China using volume-based incentives to secure long-term contracts, ensuring predictability within the Carbonates supply chain.
• Streamline logistics and shipping for bulk commodities like calcium carbonate to major volume hubs like China, minimizing costs to protect margins on lower-value products.
• Use detailed hs code 2836 trade data to monitor buyer purchase cycles and anticipate demand shifts, allowing for proactive inventory management and preventing overstock of bulk materials.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Carbonates Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Carbonates Export 2025 April?

Argentina's Carbonates exports rebounded in April 2025, with a 7.4% month-over-month value increase, driven by recovering industrial demand and stabilized supply chains. The high-value lithium carbonate segment (99% of export value) further supported this growth.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Carbonates (HS Code 2836) 2025 April?

China dominates with 85.01% of export value, followed by the U.S. (9.56%) and Japan (3.11%). These three markets account for nearly all of Argentina’s Carbonates shipments.

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

Prices vary due to product specialization: lithium carbonate commands 16.86 USD/kg, while bulk commodities like calcium carbonate trade at 0.57–1.00 USD/kg. The U.S. and Japan pay premiums for high-grade variants.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-value lithium carbonate buyers (e.g., China) and nurture relationships with intermediaries to mitigate volatility risks from infrequent bulk purchases.

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

Buyers in China benefit from consistent bulk supply, while U.S. and Japanese buyers access premium-grade products. Trading companies play a key role in facilitating large transactions.

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

Lithium carbonate is a high-value chemical for batteries and industrial applications, while other carbonates serve as raw materials for construction, agriculture, or commodity markets.