Argentina Fresh Cheese Export Market -- HS Code 040610 Trade Data & Price Trend (May 2025)

Argentina Fresh Cheese Export (HS 040610) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Fresh Cheese exports under HS Code 040610 in May 2025 show a highly specialized product mix, dominated by premium-grade fresh cheese with strong pricing power, while export values sharply contracted from earlier peaks. Brazil is the dominant buyer, accounting for 58% of trade volume, indicating high geographic concentration risk, though regional demand clusters like Colombia offer premium opportunities. This analysis covers May 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Fresh Cheese Export (HS 040610) Background

What is HS Code 040610?

HS Code 040610 refers to fresh (unripened) cheese, a dairy product widely used in food service, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Its global demand remains stable due to its versatility in culinary applications, from direct consumption to ingredient use in processed foods. The product’s perishable nature and reliance on cold chain logistics shape its trade dynamics.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade policy updates have been announced, Argentina’s fresh cheese exports are influenced by global dairy price fluctuations and shifting consumer preferences toward high-protein diets. Argentina’s strategic position in this trade flow stems from its competitive dairy sector and access to key markets, making its export performance a critical indicator for regional supply trends. Monitoring hs code 040610 trade data is essential to gauge the resilience of Argentina’s fresh cheese export sector amid evolving macroeconomic conditions. Vigilance remains warranted to identify emerging opportunities or risks in this segment.

Argentina Fresh Cheese Export (HS 040610) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Fresh Cheese exports in May 2025 reached 22.75 million USD, representing a sharp contraction from the elevated levels seen earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Fresh Cheese Export trend exhibited notable volatility through the first four months of 2025, with total value declining from 47.52 million USD in January to 42.06 million in February, before modest recoveries in March (42.51 million) and April (44.45 million). This pattern of sequential fluctuation likely stems from inherent industry cycles, such as seasonal demand shifts and inventory management, compounded by macroeconomic factors like currency instability affecting export competitiveness. The hs code 040610 value trend underscores the sensitivity of dairy exports to global market dynamics, warranting close observation for signs of stabilization or further adjustment.

Argentina Fresh Cheese Export (HS 040610) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Argentina's export of fresh cheese under HS Code 040610 is overwhelmingly dominated by a single sub-type, specifically "dairy produce; fresh cheese (including whey cheese), not fermented, and curd" with code 04061010199. According to yTrade data, this sub-code accounts for 99.04% of the total export value and 95.18% of the quantity, indicating a highly specialized market focused on this product form. The unit price for this dominant type is approximately 5.14 USD per kilogram, based on value and quantity data, suggesting a standardized but potentially higher-value offering. An anomaly is present in sub-code 04061090219, which has a significantly lower unit price of around 0.74 USD per kilogram, isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two categories based on unit price disparities, indicating different quality grades or value-add stages. The first group includes the dominant sub-code and 04061010119, both with unit prices above 3.32 USD per kilogram, representing higher-grade fresh cheese likely aimed at premium markets. The second group consists of the anomalous low-priced sub-code, which may correspond to economy-grade or bulk products. This structure points to a trade in differentiated manufactured goods rather than fungible commodities, as price variations reflect quality distinctions rather than index-linked bulk trading.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, Argentina's HS Code 040610 export data reveals strong pricing power for the high-value fresh cheese segments, allowing exporters to leverage quality differentiation. Strategic focus should be on maintaining and promoting the premium grades to sustain value, while monitoring the economy segment for potential market shifts. Analyzing HS Code 040610 trade data further can help identify opportunities for value addition and market expansion.

Check Detailed HS Code 040610 Breakdown

Argentina Fresh Cheese Export (HS 040610) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Brazil is the top importer of Argentina's Fresh Cheese exports in May 2025, holding 58.22% of the value and 57.95% of the quantity. The nearly equal value and quantity shares show that Brazil buys standard grades of Fresh Cheese at consistent prices. The high shipment frequency of 50.43% points to regular, likely daily, deliveries to keep the cheese fresh, which is critical for perishable goods like this.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Importers fall into three groups based on share patterns. Brazil and Chile make up a volume cluster with high value and quantity shares, serving as main markets for bulk Fresh Cheese sales. Colombia is a high-yield cluster where the value share of 1.59% tops the quantity share of 0.70%, signaling interest in premium or specialty cheese. Uruguay is a transactional cluster with a frequency share of 11.11% much higher than its value share of 1.48%, due to many small, frequent shipments across nearby borders to ensure freshness.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should prioritize steady supply to volume buyers in Brazil and Chile, while streamlining logistics for high-frequency routes to Uruguay to reduce spoilage risks. Targeting premium demand in Colombia could boost profits for HS Code 040610 trade. No relevant trade news impacts this strategy for May 2025.

Table: Argentina Fresh Cheese (HS 040610) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Fresh Cheese Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize exports of the high-value fresh cheese sub-type (04061010199) in your Argentina Fresh Cheese Export strategy, as HS Code 040610 trade data confirms it commands a premium price and drives over 99% of export value.
• Secure long-term contracts with volume buyers in Brazil and Chile to ensure stable demand for the core Fresh Cheese supply chain and protect against market volatility.
• Optimize logistics for high-frequency, small shipments to nearby markets like Uruguay to minimize spoilage risk in the perishable Fresh Cheese supply chain and protect profit margins.
• Target premium market opportunities in countries like Colombia by analyzing HS Code 040610 trade data to identify buyers willing to pay more for specialized grades, thereby increasing the overall value of Argentina's Fresh Cheese Export.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Fresh Cheese Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Fresh Cheese Export 2025 May?

Argentina's Fresh Cheese exports in May 2025 saw a sharp contraction to 22.75 million USD, continuing a volatile trend from earlier months. This reflects seasonal demand shifts and macroeconomic factors like currency instability affecting export competitiveness.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Fresh Cheese (HS Code 040610) 2025 May?

Brazil dominates as the top importer, accounting for 58.22% of export value, followed by Chile and Colombia. Uruguay also features prominently due to high shipment frequency (11.11%) despite smaller volume shares.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: premium-grade fresh cheese (e.g., sub-code 04061010199 at ~5.14 USD/kg) targets markets like Colombia, while economy-grade (e.g., 04061090219 at ~0.74 USD/kg) serves bulk buyers like Brazil.

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

Exporters should prioritize steady supply to volume markets (Brazil/Chile), streamline logistics for high-frequency routes (Uruguay), and target premium demand in Colombia to maximize profitability.

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

Brazilian and Chilean buyers benefit from consistent bulk supply, while Colombian importers access premium products. Uruguayan buyers rely on frequent, small shipments to ensure freshness.

Q6. How is Fresh Cheese typically used in this trade flow?

Fresh cheese exports are primarily consumed as perishable dairy products, requiring rapid distribution—evidenced by high shipment frequency to nearby markets like Uruguay and Brazil.