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

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Carbonates export under HS Code 2836 is dominated by high-value lithium carbonate, accounting for nearly all trade volume and value, while lower-grade carbonates serve niche markets. September 2025 saw a rebound in exports to $77.77 million, recovering from mid-year volatility, likely driven by Argentina's recent elimination of export duties. China dominates as the primary buyer, absorbing 87% of export value, signaling high geographic concentration risk. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, confirms Argentina's pricing power in lithium carbonate but underscores reliance on a single market. Businesses should prioritize premium product segments while diversifying buyers to mitigate risk.

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 food processing, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, where they serve as leavening agents, buffering compounds, or fertilizer components. Global demand remains stable due to their essential role in these sectors.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently eliminated export duties for certain goods, including carbonates, under Decree No. 682, effective September 2025 [KPMG]. This policy shift enhances the competitiveness of Argentina's carbonates export market, particularly as global trade dynamics favor cost-sensitive buyers. With China dominating regional trade flows for similar products, as seen in Chile's ammonium carbonate exports (KPMG), Argentina's strategic position hinges on leveraging its policy advantage to capture market share. Monitoring hs code 2836 trade data is critical to assess the impact of these changes and identify emerging opportunities.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Carbonates exports under HS code 2836 reached 77.77 million USD in September 2025, marking a significant recovery from the volatility seen in mid-year and reflecting the impact of recent policy shifts aimed at boosting trade competitiveness.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Carbonates Export trend showed strong performance early in the year, with values averaging above 140 million USD from January to April, before a sharp decline in May to 45.36 million USD and a puzzling zero in July. This was followed by a rebound in August to 68.54 million USD and a further rise in September, indicating restored momentum likely driven by the Argentine government's move to eliminate export duties for certain goods, as reported in late September [KPMG]. The hs code 2836 value trend suggests that policy support is helping stabilize exports after mid-year disruptions, aligning with broader efforts to enhance agricultural and industrial product flows globally.

Argentina Carbonates Export (HS 2836) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for September 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 2836 is overwhelmingly concentrated in lithium carbonate, which accounts for nearly 100% of both the value and weight. This high specialization is evident in the dominant share held by this product, with minimal contributions from other sub-codes. An extreme price anomaly is present in calcium carbonate, which shows a significantly higher unit price but is isolated from the main analysis due to its negligible volume and irregular trade pattern.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous remaining exports are split into two categories: not elsewhere classified carbonates and sodium bicarbonate, both with unit prices around 2 USD per kilogram, much lower than lithium carbonate. This structure indicates a clear division between high-value, industrial-grade lithium carbonate and lower-value, general-purpose carbonates. The market for HS Code 2836 is not fungible; instead, it features differentiated products where value is tied to specific chemical grades and end-use applications, such as energy storage versus common industrial or consumer uses.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Argentina's export dominance in lithium carbonate under HS Code 2836 provides strong pricing power, driven by global demand for battery materials. Businesses should prioritize strategies that leverage this high-value segment, such as securing long-term contracts and investing in quality control, while treating other carbonates as secondary opportunities. Analysis of HS Code 2836 trade data confirms that focusing on lithium carbonate maximizes returns and competitive advantage in Argentina's export portfolio.

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 MAINLAND is the dominant destination for Argentina's Carbonates exports in September 2025, accounting for 86.99% of the total export value. The value share (86.99%) exceeds the quantity share (77.66%), indicating strong demand for higher-grade or finished Carbonates from Argentina. The high frequency share (84.17%) aligns closely with value, suggesting consistent, large-scale shipments rather than fragmented trade. For countries like JAPAN, CHILE, URUGUAY, and PARAGUAY, quantity data is unavailable, so analysis focuses on value and frequency shares.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners form three clusters based on trade patterns. The High-Yield Cluster includes SOUTH KOREA, with a value share of 3.56% but a minimal quantity share of 0.02%, pointing to niche demand for premium-priced Carbonates. The Volume/Hub Cluster consists of the UNITED STATES (15.50% quantity share, 5.70% value share), INDONESIA (2.87% quantity, 1.02% value), and FRANCE (3.59% quantity, 1.36% value), indicating bulk trade of raw or lower-end Carbonates, likely for industrial processing or large-scale consumption. The remaining countries have minor shares, reflecting diverse but small-scale markets for Argentina's HS Code 2836 products.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's Carbonates export performance, prioritize high-margin markets like South Korea by promoting premium product variants. For bulk buyers in the Volume Cluster, such as the US, Indonesia, and France, optimize supply chain logistics to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The recent policy setting export duties to 0% for certain goods [KPMG] could support these efforts by making exports more competitive, potentially boosting shipments to key partners.

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

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Action Plan for Carbonates Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize lithium carbonate within the Argentina Carbonates Export portfolio by securing long-term contracts with battery manufacturers, because its premium pricing drives nearly all value in hs code 2836 trade data and ensures maximum revenue.
• Target high-margin markets like South Korea with tailored marketing for premium-grade products, as their niche demand offers superior profitability compared to bulk buyers in the Carbonates supply chain.
• Optimize logistics and cost efficiency for volume shipments to the US, Indonesia, and France, leveraging the 0% export duty to strengthen competitiveness and secure bulk trade relationships.
• Use hs code 2836 trade data to monitor buyer frequency and shipment sizes, enabling dynamic inventory management to avoid overstock and align production with actual demand cycles.
• Diversify risk by developing secondary markets for non-lithium carbonates, but treat them as complementary to the core lithium strategy to maintain focus on high-value segments.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Carbonates Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Carbonates exports rebounded to 77.77 million USD in September 2025 after mid-year volatility, likely due to policy shifts like the elimination of export duties, which stabilized trade flows.

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

China dominates with 86.99% of export value, followed by the US (5.70%) and South Korea (3.56%), reflecting concentrated demand for Argentina's high-grade lithium carbonate.

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

Prices vary due to product differentiation: lithium carbonate commands premium pricing for energy storage, while general-purpose carbonates (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) trade at lower rates (~2 USD/kg).

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

Prioritize high-margin markets like South Korea for premium lithium carbonate and optimize logistics for bulk buyers (e.g., US, Indonesia) to leverage the 0% export duty policy.

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

Buyers in China benefit from consistent large-scale shipments, while niche markets (e.g., South Korea) access high-value variants. Bulk importers (US, France) secure cost-efficient industrial-grade supply.

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

Lithium carbonate is primarily used for battery materials in energy storage, while other carbonates serve industrial or consumer applications like pH regulation or manufacturing.