Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export Market -- HS Code 151211 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151211) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil exports under HS Code 151211 in April 2025 reveal a two-tiered market, with bulk-grade oil dominating at $2.15/kg and a premium segment commanding a 14% price uplift. Export value surged 9% month-over-month, reflecting strong post-harvest momentum and stable pricing between $2.17-$2.24/kg. India anchors demand, absorbing 43% of value and 46% of volume, while Iraq emerges as a secondary bulk buyer. The analysis, covering April 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151211) Background

What is HS Code 151211?

HS Code 151211 refers to Sunflower seed or safflower oil, crude, a key agricultural commodity used primarily in food processing, cooking, and biodiesel production. Its global demand remains stable due to its versatility and health benefits, making it a staple in both consumer and industrial markets. Argentina is a major producer and exporter of this product, leveraging its robust agricultural sector to meet international demand.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade news or policy announcements have emerged, Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil Export remains highly sensitive to global commodity price fluctuations and shifting trade dynamics. As one of the world's top exporters, Argentina plays a critical role in supplying hs code 151211 trade data to key markets, including Europe and Asia. The country's competitive pricing and production capacity underscore its strategic importance. However, market volatility and geopolitical factors necessitate close monitoring to anticipate shifts in trade flows and pricing trends.

Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151211) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil Export trend demonstrated strong performance, with total value reaching 324.70 million USD at a unit price of 2.19 USD per kilogram. This reflects sustained momentum in export volumes and value for the month.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export trend built on sequential growth from January to April, with value increasing by over 9% month-over-month in April, following a 12.6% rise in March. This upward trajectory in the hs code 151211 value trend is consistent with typical post-harvest shipment cycles, as Argentina's sunflower crop harvest concludes in early 2025, boosting export availability. The slight price volatility—ranging from 2.17 to 2.24 USD per kilogram—likely stems from broader global vegetable oil demand shifts and currency fluctuations, rather than specific policy changes. Overall, the data indicates a robust export season driven by high volume throughput.

Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151211) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Argentina's April 2025 export of crude sunflower oil under HS Code 151211 is overwhelmingly dominated by a single product type. The sub-code 15121110919, described as crude sunflower oil not chemically modified, accounts for nearly 88% of the total export weight and 86% of the total value. Its average unit price of $2.15 per kilogram establishes it as the market's bulk standard. A separate, extremely low-volume shipment priced at just $0.26 per kilogram is an isolated anomaly and is excluded from the main structural analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous trade is split into two clear tiers. The dominant bulk product (15121110919) represents the core commodity-grade export. A second, smaller segment (15121110911) trades at a 14% premium, priced at $2.44 per kilogram. This price differential suggests a market with a degree of product differentiation, likely based on quality or refinement level, rather than a purely homogenous bulk commodity trade. The structure of Argentina's HS Code 151211 exports therefore points to a market where standard bulk and a premium grade coexist.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This two-tiered structure indicates that Argentina possesses some pricing power for its higher-grade oil. For buyers, the HS Code 151211 trade data reveals a market where sourcing decisions can be made based on a clear price-for-quality trade-off. For Argentine exporters, the strategy should focus on maintaining the quality premium for the higher-value segment while efficiently managing costs for the high-volume bulk commodity, which forms the foundation of the export flow.

Check Detailed HS Code 151211 Breakdown

Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151211) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

INDIA is the dominant destination for Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil exports in April 2025, accounting for 42.83% of the value and 46.14% of the weight. The higher weight share compared to value share indicates that India primarily imports bulk, lower-value crude oil for processing or mass consumption. The frequency of shipments is also high at 25.40%, supporting consistent bulk trade flows. Iraq follows as a key partner with similar bulk characteristics, holding 25.64% value and 24.29% weight shares.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners form two main clusters based on trade patterns. The volume cluster includes India and Iraq, where high weight and value shares point to large-scale, bulk purchases typical for crude vegetable oil used in food manufacturing or refining. The transactional cluster features Chile and the United States, with disproportionately high frequency shares (16.94% and 12.50% respectively) but low volume, suggesting smaller, frequent shipments likely for retail or niche markets that require just-in-time delivery due to perishability or specific demand.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil export performance, focus on securing long-term contracts with bulk buyers like India and Iraq to stabilize supply chains and reduce logistics costs. For transactional markets such as Chile and the U.S., develop agile shipping solutions to handle high-frequency, small-volume orders, potentially targeting premium segments. Analyzing HS Code 151211 trade data shows opportunities to diversify into emerging markets while maintaining cost efficiency in bulk transportation.

Table: Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil (HS 151211) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Crude Sunflower Oil Market Operation and Expansion

• Leverage the two-tier pricing structure revealed by hs code 151211 trade data to maximize revenue. Segment marketing to push the premium-grade oil to buyers in transactional markets like the U.S. and Chile, while competing on cost-efficiency for the bulk grade with volume buyers like India. This directly capitalizes on Argentina's existing pricing power for higher-quality oil.
• Optimize the Crude Sunflower Oil supply chain for bulk exports to India and Iraq. Negotiate long-term freight contracts for large-volume shipments to reduce per-unit logistics costs and secure predictable shipping schedules. This stabilizes the foundation of the Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil export business.
• Develop an agile logistics framework for high-frequency, low-volume buyers. Partner with regional distributors in markets like Chile and the U.S. to handle smaller, more frequent orders efficiently. This captures value in niche segments without disrupting bulk operations.
• Use hs code 151211 trade data to identify and target emerging markets with growth potential. Diversifying export destinations mitigates the risk of over-reliance on a few key partners and strengthens the overall resilience of the Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil export profile.
• Continuously monitor hs code 151211 trade data for shifts in buyer behavior and price anomalies. This enables proactive adjustments to sales and logistics strategies, protecting margins and ensuring the Crude Sunflower Oil supply chain remains competitive.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil Export 2025 April?

Argentina's Crude Sunflower Oil exports grew 9% month-over-month in April 2025, driven by post-harvest shipment cycles and sustained global demand. The upward trend reflects high volume throughput and slight price volatility linked to broader vegetable oil market shifts.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Crude Sunflower Oil (HS Code 151211) 2025 April?

India dominates with 42.83% of export value, followed by Iraq at 25.64%. Chile and the U.S. are key transactional partners, handling smaller, frequent shipments.

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

Price differences stem from product tiers: bulk-grade oil (HS 15121110919) trades at $2.15/kg, while a premium grade (HS 15121110911) commands a 14% higher price ($2.44/kg) due to quality differentiation.

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

Exporters should secure long-term contracts with bulk buyers like India and Iraq while optimizing logistics for high-frequency, small-volume orders to markets like Chile and the U.S.

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

Bulk buyers (e.g., India, Iraq) benefit from stable supply chains, while transactional buyers (e.g., Chile, U.S.) gain flexibility for niche or retail demand with agile shipping options.

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

The oil is primarily used for food manufacturing or refining in bulk markets (India, Iraq) and likely for retail or niche perishable products in high-frequency markets (Chile, U.S.).