Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export Market -- HS Code 030474 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export (HS 030474) Key Takeaways

Argentina's frozen fish fillets export under HS code 030474 rebounded sharply in August 2025 after a mid-year slump, driven by policy support and bulk demand. The trade is dominated by standardized bulk shipments, with Spain absorbing 42% of exports, reflecting concentrated reliance on a single high-volume market. Two sub-codes account for nearly 90% of trade value, signaling commodity-like competition with limited pricing power. A rare premium-priced sub-code (4.95 USD/kg) hints at untapped niche potential. This analysis covers August 2025 and is based on processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export (HS 030474) Background

What is HS Code 030474?

HS Code 030474 refers to frozen fish fillets, a globally traded commodity with stable demand driven by food processing industries and retail markets. These products are widely used in ready-to-cook meals, catering, and household consumption due to their convenience and extended shelf life. The trade of frozen fish fillets is particularly significant in regions with strong seafood consumption or export-oriented fisheries, such as Argentina.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina's government recently reduced export duties to boost foreign sales, including for agricultural and seafood products, under Decree No. 38/2025 and General Resolution 5643/2025 [KPMG International]. This policy shift aims to enhance competitiveness for Argentina's frozen fish fillets export sector, which benefits from the country's rich marine resources. Given the global demand for seafood and Argentina's strategic position as a supplier, monitoring HS Code 030474 trade data is critical for assessing market opportunities and regulatory impacts. The combination of favorable policies and natural advantages underscores the need for vigilance in tracking export trends and trade dynamics.

Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export (HS 030474) Price Trend

Key Observations

In August 2025, Argentina's exports of frozen fish fillets under HS code 030474 reached a value of 26.38 million USD, marking a significant recovery from the previous month's halt in trade activity.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Frozen fish fillets Export trend exhibited strong growth early in the year, peaking at 53.25 million USD in April, but faced a sharp decline to 17.30 million USD by June and a complete stall in July. The rebound in August aligns with broader policy support, such as the reduced export duties introduced in January [KPMG International], which likely bolstered competitiveness, though mid-year volatility may reflect seasonal fishing cycles or global demand fluctuations in the seafood sector.

Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export (HS 030474) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of frozen hake fillets under HS Code 030474 in August 2025 shows high concentration in two main sub-codes. According to yTrade data, the sub-code 03047400953 for frozen hake fillets dominates with a 43.58% value share and an implied unit price of approximately 3.07 USD per kilogram, closely followed by sub-code 03047400954 at 44.32% value share and about 3.27 USD/kg. This concentration suggests a focus on standardized bulk shipments. A notable anomaly is sub-code 03047400211, with a significantly higher implied unit price of around 4.95 USD/kg, indicating a potential premium product isolated from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two categories based on implied unit prices. First, medium-value fillets with prices around 3.30 to 3.67 USD/kg, including codes like 03047400955 and 03047400951, which may represent consistent quality grades for general export. Second, a smaller group with prices around 2.32 to 3.45 USD/kg, such as 03047400112 and 03047400219, possibly indicating lower-grade or smaller batch options. The structure points to a trade in fungible bulk commodities, with slight variations hinting at basic quality differentiation rather than high value-add manufacturing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the concentration in bulk exports under HS Code 030474 implies limited pricing power due to commodity-like competition. Strategies should focus on cost efficiency for high-volume codes like 03047400953, while exploring niche opportunities in higher-priced segments like the anomalous 03047400211 for better margins. Analyzing HS Code 030474 trade data reveals that Argentina's export success hinges on volume-driven approaches, with minimal leverage for premium pricing without further product differentiation.

Check Detailed HS Code 030474 Breakdown

Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets Export (HS 030474) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In August 2025, Spain was the dominant destination for Argentina's frozen fish fillets exports, holding a 42.34% share of the total export value. The value share (42.34%) closely aligns with the quantity share (41.57%), indicating consistent pricing for standard-quality frozen fish fillets without significant premium or discount trends. The frequency share (22.76%) is lower relative to value, suggesting that shipments to Spain are fewer in number but larger in size, typical for bulk food exports to major markets.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations can be grouped into two clusters based on trade patterns. The first cluster includes Spain, Brazil, and the United States, which together account for over 73% of the export value, with balanced value and quantity shares pointing to stable, high-volume demand for processed fish. The second cluster consists of European countries like Poland, Portugal, and Italy, where lower value shares but similar quantity ratios indicate regional demand driven by proximity and existing trade networks. The high frequency from Spain and Brazil (over 22% each) suggests regular, established supply chains for frozen seafood.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should prioritize maintaining and expanding relationships with high-volume partners like Spain and Brazil, leveraging consistent demand for frozen fish fillets. Recent policy changes, such as reduced export duties introduced in early 2025 [KPMG International], could lower costs and enhance competitiveness, supporting growth in these markets. Supply chain efforts should focus on optimizing logistics for bulk shipments to Europe and exploring opportunities in emerging markets to diversify export bases for HS Code 030474 products.

Table: Argentina Frozen Fish Fillets (HS 030474) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Frozen Fish Fillets Market Operation and Expansion

• Focus on cost efficiency for high-volume sub-codes like 03047400953 to protect margins in the Argentina Frozen fish fillets Export market, as the hs code 030474 trade data confirms it is a bulk commodity with intense price competition.
• Analyze the specifications behind the high-price anomaly sub-code 03047400211 to develop a premium product line, creating a new revenue stream that moves beyond standard bulk exports.
• Optimize the Frozen fish fillets supply chain for large, infrequent shipments to key partners like Spain and Brazil, leveraging Argentina's 2025 duty reduction to strengthen competitiveness in these core markets.
• Use buyer frequency data from the top three destinations to forecast demand and schedule production, preventing inventory overstock and ensuring efficient capital use for the Argentina Frozen fish fillets Export business.
• Diversify the export base by targeting smaller European markets with similar quantity-to-value ratios, reducing over-reliance on a few major buyers and building a more resilient trade portfolio.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Frozen fish fillets Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Frozen fish fillets Export 2025 August?

Argentina's frozen fish fillet exports rebounded to 26.38 million USD in August 2025 after a mid-year slump, likely due to policy support like reduced export duties and seasonal demand fluctuations in the seafood sector.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Frozen fish fillets (HS Code 030474) 2025 August?

Spain dominated with a 42.34% value share, followed by Brazil and the United States, which together accounted for over 73% of Argentina's frozen fish fillet exports.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization—bulk shipments (e.g., sub-code 03047400953 at ~3.07 USD/kg) dominate, while niche segments like sub-code 03047400211 command a premium (~4.95 USD/kg).

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

Exporters should prioritize cost efficiency for high-volume bulk shipments to Spain and Brazil while exploring premium niches like sub-code 03047400211 for higher margins.

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

Buyers in Spain and Brazil benefit from stable, large-volume supply chains, while European markets like Poland and Italy offer regional sourcing opportunities with consistent pricing.

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

Frozen hake fillets are primarily traded as standardized bulk commodities for food processing or retail, with minor differentiation in quality grades.