Argentina Crude Petroleum Export Market -- HS Code 270900 Trade Data & Price Trend (May 2025)

Argentina Crude Petroleum Export (HS 270900) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Crude Petroleum exports under HS Code 270900 show extreme product specialization, with 100% of May 2025 trade consisting of unrefined crude oil, leaving revenue fully exposed to global price volatility. Export value plummeted to $1.02B, continuing a volatile downward trend from early 2025 highs. Chile dominates as a premium buyer, accounting for 45% of value but just 1% of volume, while the U.S. absorbs 71% of volume at lower margins. This analysis of May 2025 trade patterns is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Crude Petroleum Export (HS 270900) Background

What is HS Code 270900?

HS Code 270900 refers to Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, a critical commodity in global energy markets. This product is primarily used as feedstock for refineries to produce fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals, driving consistent demand due to its foundational role in transportation and industrial sectors. Its trade dynamics are heavily influenced by global oil prices, geopolitical stability, and energy policies.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina's Crude Petroleum Export remains a key component of its trade portfolio, with recent data from [WITS Data] highlighting its position in global markets. The country's strategic significance stems from its vast shale reserves, particularly in the Vaca Muerta region, which bolster its export capacity. However, fluctuating global oil prices and domestic energy policies necessitate close monitoring of hs code 270900 trade data to assess competitiveness. As Argentina navigates these dynamics, market vigilance is essential to capitalize on emerging opportunities and mitigate risks.

Argentina Crude Petroleum Export (HS 270900) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Crude Petroleum export value for May 2025 was 1.02 billion USD, indicating a significant contraction in the hs code 270900 value trend compared to previous months.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Crude Petroleum Export trend exhibited considerable volatility in early 2025, with value declining sequentially from 4.25 billion USD in January to 3.34 billion in March, followed by a modest recovery to 3.89 billion in April before the sharp May drop. This fluctuation likely stems from broader macroeconomic pressures, such as global oil demand shifts and potential domestic production adjustments. According to [WITS Data], Argentina's merchandise trade environment has shown instability, which may have contributed to the erratic export performance in crude petroleum during this period.

Argentina Crude Petroleum Export (HS 270900) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for May 2025, Argentina's export activities under HS Code 270900 are entirely concentrated in a single product. The export of Crude Petroleum, specifically "Oils; petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude," accounts for 100% of the total export value and volume. This complete focus confirms a highly specialized trade flow for this code.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The breakdown of HS Code 270900 trade data reveals no diversification into processed or semi-finished goods. All exports consist of a single category: unrefined crude oil. This structure is typical for a fungible bulk commodity, where trade is directly linked to global price indices rather than value-added processing stages or specialized quality grades.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This extreme concentration means Argentina's export revenue for this product is entirely dependent on the global market price for crude oil. The country has no pricing power for these exports and is fully exposed to international price volatility. The strategic focus for market players should be on managing price risk, as there are no higher-value product variants to diversify into under this code.

Check Detailed HS Code 270900 Breakdown

Argentina Crude Petroleum Export (HS 270900) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In May 2025, CHILE was the dominant destination for Argentina's Crude Petroleum exports, holding a 45.44% share of the total export value. This high value share contrasts sharply with its low quantity share of 1.20%, indicating that Chile imports higher-grade or premium-priced crude from Argentina. The frequency share of 40.00% suggests regular, high-volume shipments, aligning with stable demand. The United States follows with a 38.23% value share but a much higher quantity share of 70.53%, pointing to bulk purchases of lower-end crude. Other countries like Brazil and India have smaller, more balanced shares.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners can be grouped into three clusters based on trade patterns. The High-Yield Cluster includes only Chile, where the high value share versus quantity implies demand for premium crude grades, possibly due to refining needs or quality preferences. The Volume/Hub Cluster is led by the United States, with its massive quantity share indicating role as a bulk buyer or processing center for crude oil. The Transactional Cluster features the Netherlands, with a frequency share of 14.00% disproportionate to its value share of 1.50%, suggesting frequent, smaller shipments that may support refining or distribution networks in Europe.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should prioritize maintaining and expanding high-margin exports to Chile while ensuring efficient logistics for bulk shipments to the United States. The high frequency with the Netherlands requires reliable supply chain management for regular deliveries. Analyzing trade data for HS Code 270900 shows opportunities to target premium markets and optimize bulk trade routes. No relevant news context was available to influence this strategy for May 2025.

Table: Argentina Crude Petroleum (HS 270900) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Crude Petroleum Market Operation and Expansion

• Negotiate premium pricing for high-grade crude shipments to Chile using real-time HS Code 270900 trade data, because this directly boosts Argentina Crude Petroleum Export margins without increasing volume.
• Diversify export destinations by analyzing buyer frequency patterns in HS Code 270900 trade data, to reduce over-reliance on single markets and stabilize Argentina's Crude Petroleum Export revenue against geopolitical shifts.
• Optimize the Crude Petroleum supply chain for bulk shipments to the U.S. by aligning logistics with volume purchase cycles, ensuring cost-efficient operations and reliable delivery for high-volume partners.
• Hedge against crude price volatility using forward contracts based on HS Code 270900 trade trends, protecting Argentina Crude Petroleum Export earnings from global oil market swings.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Crude Petroleum Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Crude Petroleum exports dropped sharply to 1.02 billion USD in May 2025 after volatile fluctuations earlier in the year, likely due to global oil demand shifts and domestic production adjustments.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Crude Petroleum (HS Code 270900) 2025 May?

Chile (45.44% value share) and the United States (38.23% value share) dominate Argentina's Crude Petroleum exports, followed by smaller shares to Brazil and India.

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

Chile pays premium prices for higher-grade crude (1.20% quantity share but 45.44% value share), while the U.S. buys bulk lower-end crude (70.53% quantity share).

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

Exporters should prioritize high-margin shipments to Chile, optimize bulk logistics for the U.S., and maintain reliable deliveries to frequent buyers like the Netherlands.

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

Chilean buyers secure premium crude, U.S. buyers benefit from bulk supply, and European buyers (e.g., Netherlands) rely on consistent, smaller shipments for refining or distribution.

Q6. How is Crude Petroleum typically used in this trade flow?

Argentina's Crude Petroleum exports are entirely unrefined, traded as a bulk commodity for global refining or direct industrial use.