Argentina Crustaceans Export Market -- HS Code 0306 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Crustaceans exports under HS code 0306 in February 2025 were dominated by frozen, cooked in-shell shrimps and prawns, with a mix of bulk-grade and premium products like crabs commanding higher prices. Export value dropped 21% month-over-month to $178.81 million, though unit prices edged up to $12.62/kg, signaling supply constraints. Buyer concentration remains unclear due to missing cluster data, but China led as the top destination with 22.81% value share, followed by Spain and the U.S., which showed demand for premium products. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for February 2025.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Background

What is HS Code 0306?

HS Code 0306 covers crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, or in brine, including those cooked by steaming or boiling. This category is critical for global seafood trade, driven by demand from food processing, retail, and hospitality industries. Its stability stems from consistent consumption in both developed and emerging markets.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina's recent Decree No. 682/2025 set a 0% export duty rate for certain goods, including agricultural and food products, until October 2025 or until export declarations hit USD 7 billion [KPMG]. While HS Code 0306 isn’t explicitly named, the policy signals a broader push to boost exports. Argentina’s crustaceans export sector benefits from its extensive coastline and aquaculture potential, making it a key player in Latin America. Monitoring hs code 0306 trade data is essential to gauge competitive shifts and capitalize on tariff advantages.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Price Trend

Key Observations

In February 2025, Argentina's crustaceans exports under HS code 0306 reached a value of 178.81 million USD, with a unit price of $12.62 per kg. This marks a decrease from January's 225.14 million USD in total value, though prices saw a modest increase.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Crustaceans Export trend indicates a sequential decline, with value falling by approximately 21% month-over-month and volume dropping from 18.09 million kg to 14.17 million kg. The rise in unit price from $12.45 to $12.62 per kg suggests supply constraints or selective demand, possibly due to seasonal fishing patterns or inventory drawdowns common in early-year cycles for seafood exports.

External Context and Outlook

The hs code 0306 value trend in early 2025 likely reflects broader macro-economic factors, such as currency exchange rates and global seafood demand shifts, rather than immediate policy changes. Argentina's export environment during this period remained influenced by existing trade dynamics and seasonal industry rhythms.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for February 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 0306 is heavily concentrated in frozen, cooked in-shell shrimps and prawns, which dominate with over 40% of both value and weight share. This primary sub-code commands a unit price of 12.58 USD per kilogram, indicating a standardized bulk commodity focus. An outlier with an extremely low unit price of 0.68 USD per kilogram is present but isolated from the main analysis pool due to its negligible impact.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports split into two clear categories: lower-priced basic frozen shrimps at around 9-12 USD per kilogram and higher-value items like frozen crabs at 34.62 USD per kilogram, suggesting a mix of commodity-grade and premium processed goods. This structure shows that Argentina's HS Code 0306 trade data reflects both fungible bulk shipments and some differentiated products, with processing level directly influencing price.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, pricing power remains limited in the bulk shrimp segment, tied to global commodity indices, while opportunities exist in premium products like crabs for better margins. Exporters should strategically focus on expanding higher-value processed items to enhance profitability in Argentina's HS Code 0306 export activities.

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Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In February 2025, China was the leading destination for Argentina's Crustaceans exports, holding a 22.81% share of the total export value. The value share is slightly below the weight share of 23.70%, indicating a slight preference for bulk or lower-grade products in shipments to China. The frequency of shipments is 14.34%, which is lower than the value share, pointing to fewer but larger consignments. Spain follows with a high frequency share of 20.64%, but its value share of 16.58% is less than its weight share of 17.82%, suggesting bulk trade with frequent shipments, likely for fresh supply chains. The United States shows a value share of 11.41% that exceeds its weight share of 6.73%, with a high unit price, reflecting demand for premium, high-quality Crustaceans.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export destinations for Argentina's Crustaceans can be grouped into clusters based on trade patterns. The High-Yield Cluster includes the United States and Italy, where value shares surpass weight shares (US 11.41% vs 6.73%, Italy 3.30% vs 2.89%), indicating a market for premium, processed items like lobster. The Volume/Hub Cluster consists of China, Spain, Thailand, Peru, Russia, Vietnam, Guatemala, and Indonesia, where weight shares are equal to or higher than value shares, pointing to bulk trade for processing or mass consumption, such as China's role as a seafood processing center. The Transactional Cluster features Spain, Russia, and Italy, with high frequency shares relative to value (Spain freq 20.64% > value 16.58%, Russia 7.94% > 5.88%, Italy 5.01% > 3.30%), driven by frequent, small shipments for fresh market demands or just-in-time logistics.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Crustaceans export strategy, prioritizing high-margin markets like the United States requires maintaining product quality and premium branding. In volume markets such as China, optimizing logistics for bulk shipments can reduce costs and enhance efficiency. High-frequency destinations like Spain need reliable fresh supply chains to ensure product integrity. Analyzing HS Code 0306 trade data regularly will help adapt to shifting demand and improve supply chain resilience for Crustaceans exports from Argentina.

Table: Argentina Crustaceans (HS 0306) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Crustaceans (HS 0306) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the specific buyer cluster information for Argentina Crustaceans Export in February 2025 is not provided, so the market concentration and dominant buyer group cannot be identified. Typically, such data would outline the value share and frequency of trade for the four segments of buyers, but without it, the structure remains undefined for this period.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without the detailed data from yTrade, the roles of the four buyer segments for HS code 0306 trade data are unclear. Crustaceans are often traded as commodities, so buyers might include large trading firms or direct food processors, suggesting a potentially intermediated market. However, the exact commercial personas cannot be confirmed without the cluster specifics.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

In the absence of buyer data and with no relevant news from before February 2025 end date, strategic advice for Argentina Crustaceans Export is general. Exporters should focus on maintaining competitive pricing and reliable supply, as commodity markets often depend on these factors. Without cluster insights, vulnerability to market shifts or demand changes is harder to assess.

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Action Plan for Crustaceans Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Crustaceans Export market under hs code 0306 trade data shows a clear split. Bulk frozen shrimp drives volume but limits pricing power. Premium products like crab command higher margins. China and Spain are key volume hubs, while the US and Italy pay for quality.

Price is driven by product grade and end-use market. Bulk buyers like China set commodity prices. Premium buyers like the US pay for quality and processing. The Crustaceans supply chain must therefore serve two masters: high-volume logistics for bulk and premium cold chains for quality.

Supply chain implications are direct. Volume markets need cost-efficient bulk shipping. Premium markets require guaranteed freshness and traceability. Argentina's export resilience depends on managing this dual-track system.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Crustaceans Market Execution and Expansion

• Segment buyers by trade frequency and value using hs code 0306 trade data. This identifies bulk consolidators versus premium buyers. It allows for tailored pricing and logistics strategies.
• Shift export mix toward higher-value products like whole crab or lobster. Focus on markets like the US where unit prices are strong. This directly increases revenue per shipment.
• Optimize shipping routes and methods by destination cluster. Use bulk carriers for China and air freight for high-frequency EU markets. This reduces spoilage and logistics costs.
• Monitor real-time trade data for demand shifts in key markets. Set alerts for changes in buyer behavior or new regulations. This enables rapid response to market opportunities or risks.
• Develop a premium certification program for exports to high-value markets. This justifies price premiums and strengthens brand positioning. It builds trust with quality-focused buyers.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Crustaceans Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Crustaceans Export 2025 February?

Argentina's crustaceans exports fell by 21% in value and volume month-over-month, likely due to seasonal fishing patterns or inventory drawdowns, despite a slight unit price increase to $12.62 per kg.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Crustaceans (HS Code 0306) 2025 February?

China led with 22.81% of export value, followed by Spain (16.58%) and the U.S. (11.41%), reflecting bulk trade and premium demand respectively.

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

Prices vary due to product mix: bulk frozen shrimp trades at $9-12/kg, while premium items like crabs command $34.62/kg, with the U.S. favoring higher-value goods.

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

Exporters should prioritize premium products (e.g., crabs) for high-margin markets like the U.S. and optimize bulk logistics for volume hubs like China.

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

Buyers in the U.S. and Italy can access premium crustaceans, while China and Spain receive bulk shipments, requiring different procurement strategies.

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

Argentina’s exports are split between bulk frozen shrimp for mass processing and higher-value items like crabs for premium food markets.