Argentina Frozen Beef Export Market -- HS Code 0202 Trade Data & Price Trend (Jun 2025)

Argentina Frozen Beef Export (HS 0202) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s frozen beef exports under HS code 0202 in June 2025 were dominated by boneless cuts, reflecting a commodity-driven market with limited pricing power. The trade showed signs of recovery after a volatile period, rebounding to $247.36 million following a sharp May drop. Buyer concentration was high, with a few large importers controlling bulk shipments, creating vulnerability to demand shifts. China accounted for 78.3% of export value but focused on lower-margin bulk shipments, while premium markets like Israel offered higher yields. This analysis is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database for June 2025.

Argentina Frozen Beef Export (HS 0202) Background

What is HS Code 0202?

HS Code 0202 refers to "Meat of bovine animals, frozen," a globally traded commodity primarily used in food processing, retail, and hospitality industries. Frozen beef is a staple protein source, with demand driven by population growth, urbanization, and dietary preferences. Its long shelf life and versatility make it a critical component of international meat trade.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Recent updates to the Combined Nomenclature and Customs Tariff Number for HS Code 02022090 (frozen bovine cuts with bone) highlight evolving regulatory frameworks for frozen beef exports [tariffnumber.com]. Argentina's Frozen Beef Export sector remains a key player, leveraging its robust livestock industry and competitive pricing to meet global demand. As one of the world's top beef exporters, Argentina's trade performance under HS Code 0202 is vital for market stability. Monitoring hs code 0202 trade data is essential to navigate shifting tariffs and maintain competitiveness in 2025.

Argentina Frozen Beef Export (HS 0202) Price Trend

Key Observations

In June 2025, Argentina's Frozen Beef exports reached a value of 247.36 million USD, reflecting a recovery from the previous month's performance.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Frozen Beef Export trend demonstrated notable volatility in early 2025, with values surging to 590.33 million USD in April amid tariff code clarifications for HS code 0202 as per [TariffNumber], which may have streamlined export declarations. However, this was followed by a sharp drop in May before the partial rebound in June, suggesting adjustments in global demand or supply chain dynamics typical for meat exports, rather than sustained seasonal shifts.

Argentina Frozen Beef Export (HS 0202) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In June 2025, Argentina's export of frozen beef under HS Code 0202 shows a clear focus on boneless cuts, with the top sub-code leading in value share. According to yTrade data, the sub-code 02023000891, for boneless frozen bovine meat, accounts for 11.90% of the total export value, indicating a concentrated market segment. Unit price data is not available, but the high value share points to specialization in this product form.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two main categories: boneless frozen cuts and bone-in frozen cuts. Boneless cuts make up the majority, with eight sub-codes like 02023000892 and 02023000827, suggesting a preference for higher-value, processed forms. Bone-in cuts, such as 02022090920, represent a smaller but significant portion. This structure aligns with a bulk commodity trade, where products are largely fungible and tied to market indices, with minor differentiation based on cut type.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the dominance of boneless cuts in Argentina's HS Code 0202 export implies limited pricing power due to commodity characteristics. Strategies should focus on volume efficiency and potential grade differentiation to capture marginal premiums. Analyzing HS Code 0202 trade data reveals opportunities in optimizing supply chains for these high-volume products.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0202) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Frozen Beef Export (HS 0202) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China dominates Argentina's Frozen Beef exports in June 2025, taking 78.3% of the total value. This represents $193.38 million of trade. However, its 86.57% share of the total quantity is significantly higher than its value share. This gap shows that shipments to China are focused on bulk, lower-margin cuts of frozen beef. The trade is also characterized by a very high shipment frequency, with over 16,000 transactions, indicating a deeply integrated and active supply chain.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The other buyers form two clear clusters. The first is a High-Yield cluster including Israel, the United States, and Canada. These partners have a value share that is substantially higher than their quantity share. For Israel, its 7.17% value share comes from just 3.59% of the volume, implying a strong demand for premium, high-value beef cuts. The second is a Volume cluster with countries like Brazil, Italy, Russia, Peru, El Salvador, and Mexico. Their quantity shares are close to or exceed their value shares, pointing to trade in more standard, commodity-grade frozen beef products.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The analysis of HS Code 0202 trade data suggests a dual strategy for Argentina's Frozen Beef export growth. The priority should be to expand relationships with high-yield partners like Israel and the US to maximize returns from premium product lines. Meanwhile, the high-volume, high-frequency logistics pipeline to China requires continuous optimization to protect thin margins. Diversifying within the volume cluster could also mitigate risk from any single bulk buyer adjusting orders.

Table: Argentina Frozen Beef (HS 0202) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Frozen Beef (HS 0202) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Argentina Frozen Beef Export buyers market in June 2025 was highly concentrated. A small number of high-volume buyers accounted for the majority of the trade value. The typical trade involved large, regular shipments, indicating a market dominated by established commercial relationships.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 0202 buyers indicates this is an intermediated market. The dominant group consists of large-scale importers and distributors who handle bulk shipments. Other segments of buyers include occasional large purchasers and smaller, more frequent buyers, but these play a secondary role. The trade structure shows a clear split between four segments of buyers, with the core business flowing through major trading entities.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentine exporters, the sales strategy must focus on maintaining strong ties with key high-volume partners. The heavy reliance on a few large buyers creates vulnerability to demand shifts or contract changes from these major players. Diversifying the client base to include more regular smaller buyers could help stabilize overall export volumes for Argentina Frozen Beef Export.

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Action Plan for Frozen Beef Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize high-yield markets like Israel and the US by analyzing hs code 0202 trade data to identify premium product demand, as this directly increases the profit margin for Argentina's Frozen Beef Export.
• Diversify the buyer base within the volume cluster to reduce reliance on any single bulk partner, using buyer frequency data to target new clients and stabilize overall export volumes against demand shocks.
• Optimize the Frozen Beef supply chain for high-frequency shipments to China by focusing on logistics cost reduction, protecting the thin margins critical for this high-volume trade.
• Strengthen relationships with key high-volume importers using trade data to anticipate their needs, ensuring supply security and maintaining Argentina's role as a reliable processing hub.
• Develop a product strategy that promotes grade differentiation for boneless cuts, using hs code 0202 trade data to target specific buyer segments and capture marginal price premiums.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Frozen Beef Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Frozen Beef exports rebounded to $247.36 million in June 2025 after a sharp drop in May, reflecting volatility in global demand or supply chain adjustments rather than seasonal trends.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Frozen Beef (HS Code 0202) 2025 June?

China dominated with 78.3% of export value ($193.38M), followed by Israel (7.17%) and the U.S., forming the top high-yield markets.

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

Price gaps stem from product specialization: China buys bulk, lower-margin bone-in cuts, while Israel and the U.S. demand premium boneless cuts (e.g., sub-code 02023000891).

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

Prioritize relationships with high-yield buyers (e.g., Israel, U.S.) for premium cuts while optimizing bulk logistics to China. Diversifying smaller buyers can reduce reliance on major players.

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

High-volume buyers (e.g., China) benefit from stable bulk supply, while premium buyers (e.g., Israel) access differentiated, higher-value products. Both face competition for limited exporter capacity.

Q6. How is Frozen Beef typically used in this trade flow?

Frozen beef is traded as a bulk commodity, primarily for large-scale distribution or further processing, with minor differentiation based on cut type (boneless vs. bone-in).