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

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Carbonates Export under HS Code 2836 in May 2025 was dominated by high-grade lithium carbonate, accounting for nearly all export value (99.8%), while lower-value calcium carbonate made up most of the remaining volume. Export value collapsed to $45.36 million, a sharp drop from earlier months, signaling volatile demand or supply disruptions. Buyer data was unavailable, obscuring market concentration risks, but China emerged as the dominant destination (72.89% of value), followed by the U.S., reflecting premium product demand. This analysis covers May 2025 and 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 (fertilizers), pharmaceuticals, and water treatment, driving consistent global demand. Their versatility and essential applications ensure a stable trade market for these products.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Global commodity price fluctuations and shifting industrial demand patterns are influencing the carbonates trade. Argentina's carbonates export market holds strategic importance due to the country's robust chemical production capabilities and access to key regional markets. Monitoring Argentina's HS Code 2836 trade data is critical for stakeholders to navigate supply chain dynamics and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Vigilance remains essential as macroeconomic factors continue to shape trade flows.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's carbonate exports under HS code 2836 experienced a sharp contraction in May 2025, with total export value falling to $45.36 million USD. This represents a significant departure from the stronger performance observed in the first four months of the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Carbonates Export trend showed considerable volatility in early 2025. After opening the year at $171.21 million in January, export value declined through February and March before a modest recovery to $152.50 million in April. The May collapse suggests either a major supply disruption or a substantial shift in global demand patterns. Without specific trade developments to explain this movement, the hs code 2836 value trend appears influenced by broader macroeconomic factors, potentially including currency fluctuations or inventory adjustments among international buyers. The extreme monthly variation indicates this market remains highly sensitive to both domestic production cycles and external purchasing patterns.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Argentina's export activities under HS Code 2836 are overwhelmingly dominated by lithium carbonate, according to yTrade data. This product accounts for nearly all the export value at 99.80 percent and a large majority of the quantity at 86.79 percent, indicating a highly specialized market focused on this high-value chemical. The analysis period shows no extreme price anomalies to isolate, with all data points contributing to the overall structure.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports under Argentina's HS Code 2836 trade data reveal a split into two main categories: calcium carbonate, which holds a 13.07 percent quantity share but only 0.11 percent value share, suggesting it is a lower-value, bulk commodity likely used in industrial applications, and a small group of other carbonates like potassium and sodium variants, which are minimal in both quantity and value, indicating niche or specialty grades. This structure points to a mix where lithium carbonate acts as a differentiated, high-grade product, while others are more fungible and tied to commodity markets.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the heavy reliance on lithium carbonate within Argentina's HS Code 2836 export portfolio suggests strong pricing power for this segment, but it also highlights vulnerability to demand shifts in sectors like batteries or electronics. Strategic focus should prioritize maintaining quality and exploring diversification into other carbonates to mitigate risks and capture broader market opportunities.

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 destination for Argentina's Carbonates exports in May 2025, accounting for 72.89% of the total export value. This market share is significantly higher than its 62.37% share of the total quantity shipped, indicating a strong demand for higher-grade or more processed variants of the product. The United States was the second-largest partner, with a value share of 12.07% also exceeding its quantity share, reinforcing the trend of premium product flow to these key markets.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade partners form three clear clusters. China and the United States comprise a "High-Yield Cluster," where the high value share relative to volume points to shipments of premium, higher-margin Carbonates. Chile represents a "Volume Cluster," with a 13.07% quantity share but a minimal 0.11% value share, indicating it is a destination for bulk, lower-value material. A "Transactional Cluster" includes countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Mexico; they have a high frequency of shipments but very low volume and value, suggesting small, niche orders or specialized industrial applications.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Carbonates export strategy, the priority should be to maintain and grow its high-margin trade with China and the United States. Logistics for bulk shipments to partners like Chile must be cost-optimized. The frequent, low-volume shipments to the transactional cluster represent an opportunity to explore niche market potential without significant resource investment. No specific trade news or policy was relevant to explain these patterns for the period.

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 buyer cluster information for Argentina Carbonates Export in May 2025 is not available. This prevents identification of the dominant cluster or the typical trade patterns for the four segments of buyers in the Argentina Carbonates Export market.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without the provided data on the four segments of buyers, the strategic roles and commercial personas for Argentina Carbonates Export cannot be interpreted. The profile of hs code 2836 buyers remains unclear, and no trade role can be defined for any cluster.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

Sales strategy for Argentina cannot be derived without buyer data insights. The absence of specific trade news means no additional context is available for assessing risks or opportunities in the Argentina Carbonates Export market.

Check Full Carbonates Buyer lists

Action Plan for Carbonates Market Operation and Expansion

• Focus on premium product quality for China and the US. The hs code 2836 trade data shows these markets pay a premium for higher-grade material, so maintaining superior quality will protect the high-margin revenue stream for the Argentina Carbonates Export portfolio.
• Optimize bulk shipping logistics for the Chilean market. Shipments to Chile are high-volume but low-value, so negotiating cost-efficient freight contracts is essential to preserve profitability for this segment of the Carbonates supply chain.
• Analyze transactional cluster buyers to identify niche opportunities. Countries like Spain and the Netherlands place frequent, small orders; profiling these buyers can reveal demand for specialized grades without major resource investment, helping to diversify the Argentina Carbonates Export market.
• Monitor battery sector demand and geopolitical factors closely. Since lithium carbonate dominates hs code 2836 trade data, any shift in electric vehicle production or trade policy with key partners like China could immediately impact the entire Carbonates supply chain, requiring proactive risk management.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Carbonates Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Carbonates exports collapsed to $45.36 million in May 2025 after a volatile start to the year, likely due to macroeconomic shifts like currency fluctuations or buyer inventory adjustments. The extreme drop suggests high sensitivity to global demand and domestic production cycles.

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

China dominated with 72.89% of export value, followed by the U.S. (12.07%). Chile accounted for 13.07% of quantity but only 0.11% of value, reflecting bulk shipments.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: lithium carbonate (99.8% of value) commands premium prices in China/U.S., while calcium carbonate (13.07% quantity, 0.11% value) ships as bulk to Chile.

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

Prioritize high-margin lithium carbonate trade with China/U.S., optimize bulk logistics for Chile, and explore niche opportunities in low-volume markets like Spain or Mexico.

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

Chinese/U.S. buyers secure high-grade lithium carbonate, while Chilean buyers access low-cost bulk material. Niche buyers benefit from specialized small orders without supply competition.

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

Lithium carbonate (86.79% of quantity) serves battery/electronics sectors, while calcium carbonate supports industrial applications as a bulk commodity.