Argentina Cheese Export Market -- HS Code 0406 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Key Takeaways

Argentina's cheese exports under HS code 0406 rebounded sharply in August 2025, reaching $49.17 million after mid-year volatility, signaling market stabilization. The trade is dominated by bulk fresh cheese (49% of value), with limited premium segments like blue-veined cheese offering higher margins. Brazil accounts for 43% of exports, indicating heavy geographic reliance, though premium markets like Russia show stronger value per unit. Suppliers should prioritize quality upgrades for premium buyers while optimizing bulk logistics for volume leaders. This analysis covers August 2025 and is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Background

What is HS Code 0406?

HS Code 0406 covers cheese and curd, a staple in global food consumption and processing industries. This product category is widely used in retail, food service, and manufacturing, driving consistent demand due to its versatility and shelf stability. Argentina's cheese export sector, particularly under this HS code, plays a key role in meeting international market needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

As of April 2025, Argentina has fully eliminated its import licensing system, streamlining trade operations [Trade.gov]. This policy shift could enhance export competitiveness, including for Argentina's cheese exports under HS Code 0406. The country's dairy sector benefits from robust production capabilities, positioning it as a strategic supplier in global trade. Monitoring hs code 0406 trade data is critical to assess how these regulatory changes impact market dynamics and Argentina's export performance.

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Price Trend

Key Observations

In August 2025, Argentina's cheese exports under HS code 0406 surged to 49.17 million USD, representing a strong rebound after a period of significant volatility earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Cheese Export trend exhibited considerable fluctuation through 2025, with values peaking at 91.22 million USD in January before declining sequentially to a trough of zero in July, followed by the August recovery. This pattern suggests underlying supply or demand shocks, potentially influenced by policy changes such as Argentina's elimination of its import licensing system in April 2025 [[Argentina

• Import Requirements and Documentation](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/argentina-import-requirements-and-documentation)], which may have disrupted domestic dairy markets and export flows. The hs code 0406 value trend's rebound in August aligns with typical industry adjustments in cheese exports, where mid-year lulls can occur due to seasonal production cycles or inventory recalibration, before stabilizing towards the latter half of the year.

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Argentina's export under HS Code 0406 in August 2025 is heavily concentrated in fresh cheese not fermented, which accounts for 49% of the export value and 47% of the quantity. This product has a unit price of approximately 5 USD per unit, indicating it is a standard-grade, bulk commodity. Extreme low-price anomalies are present for grated cheese and another fresh cheese type, with unit prices below 1 USD per unit; these are isolated from the main analysis due to their significant price disparity.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports consist of two main categories: various other cheeses, including non-specified types with unit prices ranging from 4 to 7 USD per unit, and blue-veined cheese, which commands a higher unit price near 7 USD per unit. This structure shows a mix of bulk commodities and slightly differentiated products, suggesting that Argentina's HS Code 0406 trade data reflects a market where most exports are fungible goods, with limited premium segments.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This analysis of Argentina's HS Code 0406 export indicates low pricing power for the dominant bulk fresh cheese, while opportunities exist in developing higher-value specialty cheeses. Market players should focus on enhancing quality and branding for premium segments to improve margins, rather than competing on volume alone.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0406) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 0406 Breakdown

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Brazil is the dominant destination for Argentina's cheese exports in August 2025, accounting for 42.88% of the total export value, 40.85% of the quantity, and 39.71% of shipment frequency. The value share slightly exceeds the quantity share, indicating that cheese shipments to Brazil may include higher-grade or premium varieties, such as aged or specialty cheeses, which command better prices. This disparity suggests a focus on quality over bulk in this key market.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export destinations can be grouped into three clusters based on trade patterns. First, the Volume Leaders cluster includes Brazil and Chile, which together represent over 65% of both value and quantity, pointing to large-scale, consistent demand, likely for mass consumption or regional distribution hubs. Second, the Premium Markets cluster consists of Russia, Saudi Arabia, China Taiwan, and Vietnam, where value shares are higher than quantity shares (e.g., Russia's value share is 10.74% vs. 8.94% quantity share), indicating a preference for higher-value cheese products, possibly due to affluent consumer bases or niche demand. Third, the Frequent Small Buyers cluster includes Paraguay and Uruguay, with high frequency shares (10.02% and 9.29% respectively) but lower value shares, suggesting frequent, smaller shipments that could be tied to fresh cheese supply chains or just-in-time delivery for perishable goods.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's cheese export performance, suppliers should prioritize securing and expanding in Premium Markets like Russia and Saudi Arabia, where unit values are higher, by emphasizing quality and branding. For Volume Leaders like Brazil and Chile, optimizing logistics for cost-effective bulk shipments can maintain competitiveness. The relevance of HS Code 0406 for cheese trade, as noted in trade data [Seair Exim Solutions], supports focusing on tariff classifications to streamline exports. Additionally, managing frequent shipments to neighbors like Paraguay may require efficient, rapid transport to preserve freshness.

Table: Argentina Cheese (HS 0406) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Cheese Market Operation and Expansion

• Target premium markets like Russia and Saudi Arabia using hs code 0406 trade data to identify buyers paying higher unit prices, because this shifts the Argentina Cheese Export focus from volume to value and improves margins.
• Optimize bulk shipments to volume leaders like Brazil by consolidating logistics and freight, as this reduces costs for the dominant part of the Argentina Cheese Export flow and maintains competitiveness.
• Develop and promote specialty cheeses such as blue-veined varieties to diversify the product mix, since this leverages existing trade relationships and creates higher-value opportunities within the cheese supply chain.
• Streamline the cheese supply chain for frequent, small buyers like Paraguay with faster shipping solutions, to ensure product freshness and meet just-in-time delivery demands effectively.
• Continuously monitor hs code 0406 trade data for pricing anomalies and emerging market trends, enabling proactive adjustments to production and export strategy to avoid value erosion.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Cheese Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Cheese Export 2025 August?

Argentina's cheese exports rebounded to $49.17 million in August 2025 after a volatile period, likely due to policy shifts like the removal of import licensing earlier in the year and seasonal adjustments in production cycles.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Cheese (HS Code 0406) 2025 August?

Brazil dominates with 42.88% of export value, followed by Chile, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, which form key clusters for bulk and premium cheese demand.

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

Price differences stem from product mix: Brazil and Chile receive bulk fresh cheese (~5 USD/unit), while Russia and Saudi Arabia import higher-value blue-veined cheese (~7 USD/unit).

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

Exporters should prioritize premium markets (e.g., Russia, Saudi Arabia) for higher margins and optimize logistics for bulk shipments to Brazil and Chile to maintain competitiveness.

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

Buyers in Brazil/Chile benefit from stable bulk supply, while premium markets gain access to specialty cheeses. Frequent small buyers like Paraguay rely on fresh cheese deliveries.

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

Argentina’s cheese exports under HS Code 0406 are primarily bulk fresh cheese for mass consumption, with smaller volumes of aged or specialty cheeses targeting niche markets.