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

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Carbonates Export under HS Code 2836 in June 2025 was dominated by high-value lithium carbonate, accounting for over 99% of export value, while lower-grade industrial carbonates played a minor role. Export values showed a modest recovery to $49.50 million after a volatile first half of the year, reflecting broader industrial demand shifts. Buyer concentration was high, with China taking 72.41% of export value, followed by the U.S. at 14.55%, signaling heavy reliance on a few key markets. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for June 2025.

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), pharmaceuticals, and water treatment, driving steady global demand. Their versatility and essential role in multiple sectors make them a significant trade commodity.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Global commodity price fluctuations and shifting industrial demand are shaping the carbonates market, with Argentina positioned as a key exporter under HS Code 2836. The country's competitive production costs and established trade networks bolster its role in supplying carbonates to international markets. Monitoring Argentina's carbonates export trends is critical, as shifts in industrial activity or trade policies could impact supply dynamics. Stakeholders should prioritize tracking hs code 2836 trade data to anticipate market movements and maintain strategic agility.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Carbonates exports in June 2025 reached a value of 49.50 million USD, marking a modest uptick from the previous month's performance.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Carbonates Export trend exhibited notable fluctuations in the first half of 2025, with values declining from a January peak of 171.21 million USD to a trough in May before the June recovery. This volatility aligns with typical industrial demand cycles for chemicals, where shifts in global manufacturing activity and potential currency effects in Argentina can drive short-term export variations. The hs code 2836 value trend underscores the market's responsiveness to broader economic conditions, rather than specific policy changes.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for June 2025, Argentina's export activities under HS Code 2836 are heavily dominated by lithium carbonate, which accounts for over 99% of the export value despite representing a smaller portion of the total quantity. This indicates a high unit price specialization, with lithium carbonate priced at approximately 29 USD per kilogram, far exceeding the lower-priced alternatives like calcium carbonate at around 0.58 USD per kilogram.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports consist of lower-value industrial grades, such as calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, which are typical bulk commodities with prices linked to industrial demand rather than specialized markets. Niche specialties like barium and strontium carbonates are present but minimal, suggesting a market structure focused on fungible bulk goods aside from the high-value lithium segment, which operates more like a differentiated manufactured product due to its premium pricing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Analyzing HS Code 2836 trade data shows that Argentina holds significant pricing power in lithium carbonates, allowing exporters to leverage this high-value niche for better margins. Strategic focus should remain on expanding lithium carbonate production and exports, while the low-value segments offer limited growth potential and are subject to commodity price fluctuations.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 2836 Breakdown

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China was the dominant buyer of Argentina's Carbonates in June 2025, taking 72.41% of the total export value. This share greatly exceeded its 52.9% portion of the total quantity, showing a clear demand for higher-grade or processed forms of the product. The United States was the second-largest market by value at 14.55%, with its quantity share of 41.07% indicating a significant volume of purchases.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals three distinct buyer profiles. The High-Yield Cluster includes South Korea and Japan; they account for 9.05% and 3.61% of the total value, respectively, from very small quantity shares, pointing to trade in premium, specialized grades. The United States forms its own Volume Cluster, being a major buyer of both value and quantity. A Transactional Cluster includes Paraguay and Brazil; they show a higher frequency of shipments but very low value, suggesting smaller, routine orders for standard material.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Carbonates export strategy, the priority is to secure its high-value trade with China and the High-Yield Cluster. This means maintaining quality standards for premium markets. For the Volume Cluster, logistics can be optimized for larger, consistent shipments to the U.S. The transactional nature of nearby South American partners offers stable, recurring demand for base products. No specific trade news or policy was announced to influence these patterns.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Argentina Carbonates (HS 2836) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Argentina Carbonates Export market in June 2025 is segmented into four groups of buyers based on purchase value and frequency: high value high frequency, high value low frequency, low value high frequency, and low value low frequency. The specific value shares for each segment are not provided, so the dominant cluster cannot be identified. This lack of data prevents a clear summary of the market structure or the definition of a typical trade pattern for Argentina Carbonates Export buyers during this period.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The four segments of buyers for Argentina Carbonates Export suggest varied strategic roles, such as consistent large-scale purchasers or occasional small buyers. However, without detailed data on company names or cluster contributions, the commercial persona of any dominant group remains unclear. The profile of HS code 2836 buyers typically involves industrial or chemical sectors, but the exact nature—whether intermediated, direct-to-factory, or other—cannot be determined from the provided yTrade data.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentina exporters of Carbonates, the undefined buyer structure highlights a need for cautious market strategy, focusing on potential risks like dependency on uncertain buyer segments and opportunities for diversification. Sales efforts should prioritize gathering more data on hs code 2836 trade data to inform targeting and relationship management. With no specific trade news or policy changes announced, the outlook relies on general market monitoring rather than external factors.

Check Full Carbonates Buyer lists

Action Plan for Carbonates Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 2836 trade data to identify and segment high-value, high-frequency buyers; this enables targeted relationship management to secure recurring premium sales for Argentina's Carbonates Export.
• Prioritize production and quality control for lithium carbonate to meet the specifications demanded by premium markets like China, South Korea, and Japan; this protects the high-margin core of the Argentina Carbonates Export business.
• Optimize the Carbonates supply chain for large-volume shipments to the U.S. by securing dedicated logistics channels; this reduces per-unit costs and strengthens competitiveness in a key volume market.
• Diversify the buyer base by analyzing trade data to find new clients in developing markets; this reduces over-reliance on a single dominant partner and stabilizes the overall Carbonates supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Carbonates Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Carbonates exports in June 2025 saw a modest recovery to 49.50 million USD after a decline from January's peak, driven by typical industrial demand cycles and potential currency effects rather than specific policy changes.

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

China dominated with 72.41% of export value, followed by the U.S. (14.55%), while South Korea and Japan formed a premium-focused High-Yield Cluster with smaller but high-value shares.

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

Prices vary due to product specialization: lithium carbonate (29 USD/kg) drives high-value trade with China and premium markets, while bulk commodities like calcium carbonate (0.58 USD/kg) cater to volume buyers like the U.S.

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

Exporters should prioritize lithium carbonate production for premium markets (China, High-Yield Cluster) and optimize logistics for bulk shipments to the U.S., while gathering more buyer data to mitigate dependency risks.

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

Buyers in China and premium markets can expect stable high-grade supply, while U.S. buyers benefit from consistent bulk availability. Nearby South American partners receive routine, low-value shipments for standard industrial use.

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

Lithium carbonate serves specialized sectors like batteries, while industrial-grade carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate) are used in bulk chemical or manufacturing processes.