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

Argentina's Crustaceans (HS Code 0306) exports fell sharply to $35.35M by June 2025, with China as top buyer and premium demand in US/UK, per yTrade data.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Crustaceans exports under HS Code 0306 in June 2025 are dominated by frozen shrimps and prawns, with limited pricing power for bulk shipments but higher-value opportunities in processed variants. Export values plummeted from 225.14 million USD in January to 35.35 million USD by June, signaling a sharp downtrend likely tied to global demand shifts. China is the top importer, accounting for 20.47% of value, while the US and UK show premium demand. Buyer concentration remains unclear due to missing data, highlighting potential market risks. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for June 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 product category is a staple in global seafood trade, driven by demand from food processing, retail, and hospitality industries. Its versatility and shelf-stable forms ensure consistent international demand.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade policy updates have been announced, Argentina's crustaceans export sector remains sensitive to global commodity price fluctuations and shifting consumer preferences. Argentina's strategic position as a key supplier of high-quality crustaceans underscores its importance in the hs code 0306 trade data landscape. The country's export performance hinges on competitive pricing, sustainability practices, and market access conditions. Monitoring Argentina's crustaceans export trends is critical for stakeholders navigating this dynamic market.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's crustaceans exports in June 2025 were valued at 35.35 million USD, marking a continued decline in the hs code 0306 value trend from earlier in the year. This performance reflects a broader downtrend observed over the first half of 2025.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Crustaceans Export trend exhibited a sharp sequential decrease, with export value dropping from 225.14 million USD in January to 35.35 million USD by June. The most significant contraction occurred from April to May, where values fell by over 80 million USD, suggesting potential impacts from reduced global demand or seasonal inventory cycles common in crustacean markets. This pattern may be linked to broader economic factors such as currency volatility or shifts in international buyer behavior, rather than specific policy changes.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In June 2025, Argentina's export activities under HS Code 0306 are heavily concentrated on frozen shrimps and prawns, with sub-code 03061790219 dominating over 35% of the total export value, according to yTrade data. This sub-code covers frozen shrimps and prawns, excluding cold-water varieties, in shell and cooked by steaming or boiling, with an estimated unit price of approximately 6.66 USD per kilogram. A notable anomaly is sub-code 03061400929 for frozen crabs, which has a much higher unit price near 17.54 USD per kilogram but represents only a small share of exports, so it is isolated from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes for frozen shrimps and prawns can be grouped into two categories based on preparation and unit price. The first group includes more processed items like cooked and prepared shrimps, with unit prices ranging up to 11.14 USD per kilogram, suggesting some value addition. The second group consists of standard frozen products with lower unit prices around 5.62 to 6.86 USD per kilogram, indicating a bulk commodity trade with less differentiation. This structure shows that Argentina's HS Code 0306 exports mix commodity-level shipments with slightly upgraded products, rather than fully manufactured goods.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the variation in unit prices within Argentina's HS Code 0306 trade data implies limited pricing power for standard bulk exports, but opportunities exist in higher-value prepared items. Exporters should focus on enhancing value-added processes to capture better margins, while buyers can leverage the commodity nature of most shipments for competitive sourcing. Strategic efforts should prioritize diversifying into more differentiated products to strengthen Argentina's position in global crustacean markets.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0306) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

HS CodeProduct DescriptionValueFrequencyQuantityWeight
030617*****Crustaceans; frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding cold-water varieties, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water12.59M55.001.89M0.00
030617*****Crustaceans; frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding cold-water varieties, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water6.81M42.001.08M0.00
030617*****Crustaceans; frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding cold-water varieties, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water5.88M35.00620.34K0.00
0306******************************************

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Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

CHINA MAINLAND is the dominant importer of Argentina's Crustaceans exports in June 2025, accounting for 20.47% of the total value. Its value share slightly exceeds its quantity share (20.07%), suggesting a preference for higher-grade or processed variants of Crustaceans. The frequency share is lower at 10.75%, indicating that shipments to China are larger and less frequent, which is common for bulk seafood trade where logistics are optimized for volume.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The importers can be grouped into two main clusters based on trade patterns. First, the High-Yield Cluster includes the UNITED STATES, ITALY, and the UNITED KINGDOM, where value shares exceed quantity shares (e.g., US value 15.43% vs. quantity 10.84%), pointing to demand for premium Crustaceans, likely for high-end retail or food service. Second, the Volume Cluster comprises PERU, SPAIN, THAILAND, VIETNAM, RUSSIA, and JAPAN, where quantity shares are dominant (e.g., Peru quantity 20.06%), indicating bulk imports for processing or mass consumption, possibly due to their roles as seafood hubs or having large food industries.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Crustaceans exports, focusing on the High-Yield Cluster like the US and UK could capture higher margins through targeted marketing of premium products. Optimizing logistics for the Volume Cluster, such as Peru and Spain, would involve ensuring efficient, cost-effective bulk shipments to maintain competitiveness. Given the perishable nature of Crustaceans, supply chains should prioritize freshness and reliability, especially for frequent shippers like the US, to support just-in-time delivery for fresh seafood markets.

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

CountryValueQuantityFrequencyWeight
CHINA MAINLAND7.24M973.17K23.00N/A
PERU6.04M972.60K33.00N/A
UNITED STATES5.45M525.44K42.00N/A
SPAIN4.43M652.67K33.00N/A
THAILAND3.00M462.86K19.00N/A
VIETNAM************************

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Argentina Crustaceans (HS 0306) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

No buyer cluster data is provided for Argentina Crustaceans Export in June 2025. According to yTrade data, the typical trade structure for this period cannot be determined due to missing information on the four segments of buyers.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without the specific data, the profile of HS code 0306 buyers and their commercial roles, such as whether the market is intermediated or direct-to-factory, remains unclear for Argentina Crustaceans Export.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

In the absence of buyer data, no concrete sales strategy or risk assessment can be formed for Argentina's Crustaceans Export. The news context confirms no specific trade news or policy, so no external factors are influencing the strategic outlook for this period.

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Action Plan for Crustaceans Market Operation and Expansion

  • Prioritize developing more cooked and prepared shrimp products to capture higher unit prices, because the hs code 0306 trade data shows these value-added items yield up to double the margin of bulk frozen goods in the Argentina Crustaceans Export portfolio.
  • Optimize bulk shipping logistics for high-volume partners like Peru and Spain, ensuring cost-effective and reliable frozen transport to strengthen the Crustaceans supply chain for commodity-grade exports.
  • Target marketing efforts toward high-yield markets like the US and UK with premium product lines, as their import patterns indicate a willingness to pay more for quality, boosting overall Argentina Crustaceans Export profitability.
  • Diversify export destinations to reduce dependency on any single market, using hs code 0306 trade data to identify new partners and mitigate geopolitical or demand risks in the Crustaceans supply chain.
  • Leverage detailed trade data to monitor competitor pricing and buyer frequency patterns, enabling dynamic pricing strategies that reflect real-time market conditions for Argentina Crustaceans Export.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Crustaceans Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's crustaceans exports dropped sharply from 225.14 million USD in January to 35.35 million USD by June 2025, likely due to reduced global demand or seasonal inventory cycles rather than policy changes.

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

China is the top importer (20.47% of value), followed by the United States (15.43%) and Italy, with distinct clusters for high-value (US, UK) and bulk trade (Peru, Spain).

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

Prices vary due to product grade—higher-value prepared shrimp (up to 11.14 USD/kg) goes to premium markets like the US, while bulk frozen shrimp (5.62–6.86 USD/kg) dominates volume-focused destinations like Peru.

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

Exporters should prioritize value-added processed shrimp for high-margin markets (US, UK) and optimize bulk logistics for volume buyers (Peru, Spain) to counter declining demand.

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

Buyers in premium markets can secure higher-grade products, while bulk importers (e.g., Peru, Vietnam) benefit from cost-efficient shipments for processing or mass consumption.

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

Frozen shrimp and prawns (HS 0306) are primarily traded as bulk commodities or lightly processed (steamed/cooked) for retail, food service, or further manufacturing.

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