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

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Crustaceans exports (HS Code 0306) rebounded sharply in September 2025, surging to $297.74 million—the highest monthly value of the year—as policy shifts eliminated export duties. The market is dominated by bulk frozen shrimp (72% of value), with limited pricing power but niche opportunities in higher-value sub-codes. Spain commands 41% of exports, reflecting heavy reliance on European bulk buyers, while transactional markets like China show demand for smaller, frequent shipments. This analysis, covering September 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

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 versatility and shelf-stable forms ensure consistent international demand.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently eliminated export duties on grains and by-products, including crustaceans, until October 2025 [KPMG]. This policy shift aims to boost competitiveness in key export markets. Argentina's crustaceans export sector benefits from abundant marine resources, positioning it as a significant player in global seafood trade. Monitoring hs code 0306 trade data is essential to assess the impact of these measures and identify emerging opportunities. Market vigilance remains crucial as Argentina leverages its strategic advantages in this sector.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's crustaceans exports (hs code 0306) surged to $297.74 million in September 2025, marking a robust recovery and the highest monthly value this year after a period of significant volatility.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Crustaceans Export trend exhibited sharp fluctuations throughout 2025, with values declining from a peak of $225.14 million in January to zero in July, before rebounding to $159.28 million in August and nearly $298 million in September. This sequential growth aligns with Argentina's late-September policy shift to eliminate export duties on certain goods [KPMG], which likely bolstered exporter confidence and mitigated earlier disruptions, possibly linked to seasonal fishing cycles or logistical constraints. The hs code 0306 value trend underscores a responsive market adapting to supportive economic measures.

Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of HS Code 0306 in September 2025 is highly concentrated, with sub-code 03061710220 dominating nearly three-quarters of the total export value, according to yTrade data. This sub-code, described as frozen shrimps and prawns cooked by steaming or boiling, holds a 72 percent value share and ships in large volumes at an approximate unit price of 6.99 USD per kilogram. The significant volume and lower price point compared to other sub-codes indicate a specialization in high-quantity, cost-efficient production for mass markets, with no extreme price anomalies detected in the data.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two main categories based on unit price and volume. The first group includes sub-codes like 03061790219 and 03061790919, with unit prices around 7.54 and 6.30 USD per kilogram, respectively, representing medium-volume exports similar to the dominant code. The second group, such as 03061790913 and 03061790113, features higher unit prices near 10.09 to 12.55 USD per kilogram but lower volumes, suggesting a niche for slightly premium or specialized varieties. This structure points to a trade primarily in fungible bulk commodities, where products are largely undifferentiated and price-sensitive, with minor segments for higher-value options.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For players in Argentina's HS Code 0306 export market, the heavy reliance on bulk shipments limits pricing power and exposes them to commodity price fluctuations. Strategic focus should shift towards developing the higher-value sub-codes to capture better margins, as evidenced by the trade data. Leveraging HS Code 0306 trade data can help identify opportunities for product differentiation and market diversification to reduce dependency on high-volume, low-price segments.

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

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Argentina Crustaceans Export (HS 0306) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Spain is the dominant destination for Argentina's Crustaceans exports in September 2025, holding a 41.21% value share and 42.38% quantity share. The slightly lower value share compared to quantity share suggests trade in bulk or lower-grade variants, such as frozen crustaceans for mass consumption. Frequency share at 30.05% is lower, indicating fewer but larger shipments, which is common for commodity exports to minimize logistics costs.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations form two main clusters based on trade patterns. The Volume Cluster includes Spain, Italy, and Japan, with high quantity and value shares (e.g., Italy at 18.34% quantity and 19.24% value), pointing to bulk shipments for processing or retail distribution in Europe and Asia. The Transactional Cluster features Italy and China Mainland, where frequency shares (22.73% and 9.78%) exceed value shares, indicating frequent, smaller shipments likely for fresh crustaceans to meet daily demand in food markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

To enhance Argentina's Crustaceans export performance, focus on supplying premium products to high-yield markets like the United States, where value share exceeds quantity share. Optimize logistics for bulk shipments to Volume Cluster countries to reduce costs, while maintaining high frequency for perishable goods to Transactional Cluster destinations. This approach aligns with efficient supply chain management for HS Code 0306 trade data, ensuring competitive advantage in key markets.

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

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Action Plan for Crustaceans Market Operation and Expansion

• Shift export focus towards higher-value sub-codes within the Argentina Crustaceans Export portfolio, as identified in the hs code 0306 trade data, to capture better margins and reduce reliance on low-price, bulk commodity trade.
• Target premium market opportunities in the United States by using hs code 0306 trade data to identify and engage with buyers who pay a higher unit value, thereby increasing the overall profitability of the Argentina Crustaceans Export business.
• Optimize the Crustaceans supply chain for bulk shipments to high-volume destinations like Spain and Italy by negotiating consolidated freight rates, which will directly lower logistics costs for the largest portion of exports.
• Maintain a high shipment frequency for the Crustaceans supply chain serving transactional clusters like China to ensure product freshness and meet demand for daily consumption, securing Argentina's role as a reliable supplier.
• Leverage detailed hs code 0306 trade data in price negotiations to demonstrate product differentiation and move key buyers away from bulk commodity pricing, ultimately strengthening pricing power for Argentina's 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 September?

Argentina's Crustaceans exports surged to $297.74 million in September 2025, rebounding from earlier volatility, likely due to a policy shift eliminating export duties and seasonal fishing cycles.

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

Spain dominates with a 41.21% value share, followed by Italy (19.24%) and Japan, forming the top bulk shipment destinations.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization—bulk frozen prawns (6.99 USD/kg) dominate, while niche sub-codes like 03061790113 command higher prices (10.09–12.55 USD/kg) in premium markets.

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

Exporters should prioritize higher-value sub-codes (e.g., premium frozen variants) and optimize logistics for bulk shipments to Spain/Italy while maintaining frequent deliveries to transactional markets like China.

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

Buyers in Spain/Italy benefit from stable bulk supply, while those in the U.S. or niche markets gain access to higher-margin products, though with lower volume availability.

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

Argentina’s exports are primarily frozen, bulk-processed crustaceans (e.g., steamed prawns) for mass retail or food processing, with minor premium segments for specialized demand.