Argentina Cheese Export Market -- HS Code 0406 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q3 2025)

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Key Takeaways

Argentina's cheese exports under HS Code 0406 surged in Q3 2025 after a mid-year collapse, rebounding sharply in August and September due to the elimination of export duties. Fresh cheese dominates, accounting for over 50% of export value, with Brazil as the top destination (40% share), while markets like Vietnam show premium potential. The data reveals a mix of bulk and higher-grade trade, with fresh cheese commanding strong pricing power. This analysis covers Q3 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. This product is widely used in retail, foodservice, and industrial manufacturing, driving consistent demand due to its versatility and shelf stability. Argentina's cheese export sector benefits from this steady market, particularly in dairy-importing regions.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently eliminated export duties on agricultural goods, including cheese, until October 2025 [KPMG]. This policy shift aims to boost competitiveness for Argentina's cheese export sector, aligning with broader efforts to stabilize trade flows. As a key dairy producer, Argentina leverages its cost-competitive supply chain to meet global demand, making hs code 0406 trade data critical for monitoring market shifts. Stakeholders should track these developments closely to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's cheese exports under HS code 0406 showed a volatile performance in Q3 2025, with values rebounding sharply to $49.17 million in August and $48.37 million in September after a complete halt in July. This recovery followed a steep decline from earlier in the year, indicating a significant shift in export dynamics.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Cheese Export trend exhibited pronounced fluctuations throughout 2025, starting with a peak of $91.22 million in January before declining to $36.24 million in June and collapsing to zero in July. The sequential surge in August, followed by near-stability in September, aligns with Argentina's policy move to eliminate export duties on certain goods, including potential by-products, as reported by [KPMG] and (Aduana News) in late September. This duty reduction likely reduced export costs, spurring a quick recovery in the hs code 0406 value trend after mid-year disruptions, reflecting improved exporter incentives and global demand cycles.

Argentina Cheese Export (HS 0406) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In Q3 2025, Argentina's export of cheese under HS Code 0406 is highly concentrated in fresh cheese, specifically the sub-code for "Dairy produce; fresh cheese (including whey cheese), not fermented, and curd." According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 50% of the total export value and nearly half of the volume, with an estimated unit price of around 5.10 USD per kilogram. Two sub-codes for grated or powdered cheese and a specific fresh cheese variant show significantly lower unit prices—approximately 1.06 USD/kg and 0.80 USD/kg—indicating potential low-value anomalies that are isolated from the main analysis due to their extreme price disparity.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes fall into two clear categories based on product form and value. The first group consists of fresh and standard cheeses, including varieties like blue-veined cheese, with unit prices ranging from 4.29 to 6.57 USD per kilogram, suggesting a mix of basic and slightly premium offerings. The second group encompasses other non-processed cheeses, which show moderate price variations, indicating some differentiation rather than pure commodity trading. This structure points to a market where products are somewhat differentiated by type and quality, rather than being fully fungible bulk commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The dominance of fresh cheese in Argentina's HS Code 0406 export provides strong pricing power for producers in this segment, allowing them to leverage quality and specialization. For other cheese types, the varied unit prices suggest opportunities to move up the value chain by focusing on higher-grade products. Analysis of HS Code 0406 trade data indicates that exporters should prioritize fresh cheese while exploring niches like blue-veined varieties to enhance margins and reduce reliance on lower-value processed options.

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

In Q3 2025, Argentina's cheese exports were highly concentrated, with Brazil dominating as the top destination, accounting for 40.38% of the export value. Brazil also held significant shares in quantity (38.56%) and shipment frequency (38.55%), indicating a balanced trade pattern without strong signs of premium or bulk focus. This suggests that Argentina's cheese shipments to Brazil consist of a mix of product grades, fitting typical market demand for diverse cheese types.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners can be grouped into three clusters based on their share profiles. First, the volume cluster includes Paraguay and Uruguay, where quantity shares (4.84% and 3.79%) exceed value shares (3.43% and 1.94%), pointing to bulk or lower-end cheese trade, possibly for mass consumption or processing. Second, the high-yield cluster features Vietnam, with a value share (1.79%) higher than its quantity share (0.74%), indicating demand for premium or specialized cheese. Third, the transactional cluster includes Paraguay and Uruguay again, with high frequency shares (8.61% and 8.70%), suggesting frequent shipments likely due to the perishable nature of cheese, requiring regular supply for fresh retail markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's cheese export performance, focus should be on capturing higher margins in markets like Vietnam by promoting premium products. For volume buyers in Paraguay and Uruguay, optimizing logistics for cost-effective bulk shipments is key, ensuring timely delivery to maintain freshness. Analyzing HS Code 0406 trade data shows opportunities to streamline supply chains for perishable goods, leveraging Argentina's strong position in regional markets.

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 buyers in Vietnam using hs code 0406 trade data to identify high-value product specifications, increasing the average unit price for the Argentina Cheese Export.
• Optimize the Cheese supply chain for bulk shipments to Paraguay and Uruguay by analyzing shipment frequency data, ensuring cost-effective and timely delivery to maintain product freshness.
• Diversify the export portfolio by promoting blue-veined and other specialty cheeses to new markets, leveraging the existing quality reputation to capture higher margins.
• Strengthen logistics for perishable goods by implementing track-and-trace technology, reducing spoilage risks and enhancing reliability for key buyers in the Argentina Cheese Export market.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Cheese Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Cheese Export 2025 Q3?

Argentina's cheese exports rebounded sharply in August and September 2025 after a mid-year collapse, likely due to the removal of export duties, which improved exporter incentives and aligned with global demand cycles.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Cheese (HS Code 0406) 2025 Q3?

Brazil dominates as the top destination, accounting for 40.38% of export value, followed by Paraguay and Uruguay with smaller but notable shares in volume and frequency.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization—fresh cheese (5.10 USD/kg) drives higher margins, while grated/powdered variants (as low as 0.80 USD/kg) skew lower. Markets like Vietnam pay premiums for niche products.

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

Exporters should prioritize fresh cheese (50% of value) and explore premium niches like blue-veined cheese, while optimizing bulk logistics for volume markets (e.g., Paraguay, Uruguay).

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

Brazilian buyers receive a balanced mix of cheese grades, while markets like Vietnam access higher-value products. Bulk buyers (e.g., Paraguay) benefit from cost-effective, frequent shipments for perishable goods.

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

Argentina's cheese exports serve diverse purposes, from retail consumption (fresh cheese) to processing (grated/powdered variants), with regional demand shaping bulk vs. premium trade patterns.

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