Argentina Frozen Squid Export Market -- HS Code 030743 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Argentina Frozen Squid Export (HS 030743) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Frozen Squid Export under HS Code 030743 in August 2025 saw a sharp decline to $23.91 million, continuing volatile trends after a mid-year collapse. The market is highly concentrated, with China dominating 62% of exports by value, primarily buying bulk shipments at lower prices, while Spain and South Korea show premium demand. Product differentiation is clear, with sub-codes revealing distinct bulk (around $3/kg) and premium ($3.69–$5.02/kg) segments, offering exporters pricing power opportunities. This analysis, covering August 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Frozen Squid Export (HS 030743) Background

What is HS Code 030743?

HS Code 030743 refers to Cuttle fish and squid, frozen, a product category with stable global demand driven by the food processing and seafood industries. Frozen squid is widely used in restaurants, retail markets, and as an ingredient in processed foods due to its versatility and long shelf life. Argentina's frozen squid export is a key component of its seafood trade, catering to international markets with high consumption rates.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently reduced export duties on agricultural products, including seafood, as part of broader economic reforms [Tridge]. This policy shift could enhance the competitiveness of Argentina's frozen squid export by lowering costs for international buyers. As a major player in the global seafood trade, Argentina's strategic position in HS Code 030743 trade data underscores its importance in meeting global demand. Market analysts should monitor these developments closely, as policy adjustments and global pricing trends could significantly impact trade flows in the coming months.

Argentina Frozen Squid Export (HS 030743) Price Trend

Key Observations

In August 2025, Argentina's frozen squid exports under hs code 030743 reached a value of $23.91 million USD, marking a significant downturn from earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Frozen Squid Export trend displayed considerable volatility in 2025, with values climbing to $586.68 million in February before falling to $349.86 million in March and rebounding to $526.51 million in April. A sharp contraction followed in May and June, bottoming out at zero exports in July, prior to the slight August recovery. This erratic pattern aligns with typical seafood industry cycles, where seasonal demand and supply chain adjustments often drive fluctuations. The broader export environment may have been influenced by Argentina's reduction of export duties on agricultural products in late July, which could enhance overall competitiveness [Tridge], though its immediate impact on the hs code 030743 value trend remains tentative amid ongoing market adjustments.

Argentina Frozen Squid Export (HS 030743) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of frozen squid under HS Code 030743 in August 2025 shows high concentration, with the sub-code 03074310110 for "Molluscs; cuttle fish and squid, whether in shell or not, frozen" dominating at nearly 46% of the total export value. According to yTrade data, this sub-code accounted for over 3.65 million kilograms shipped, with an estimated unit price around 3.00 USD per kilogram, indicating a bulk, standard-grade focus. A minor anomaly is present in sub-code 03074310161, which had a significantly higher unit price of approximately 5.02 USD per kilogram but only one shipment, suggesting a rare, high-value product isolated from the main market analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes reveal a differentiated market structure, not a fungible commodity. They can be grouped into two categories: standard bulk shipments with unit prices between 2.77 and 3.00 USD per kilogram, such as 03074310190, and premium segments with prices around 3.69 to 3.91 USD per kilogram, like 03074310130 and 03074310150. This variation in unit prices, despite identical product descriptions, implies grading based on quality or preparation, moving beyond simple bulk trade to more value-added differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For exporters, this structure means that focusing on premium grades under Argentina's HS Code 030743 export can yield better pricing power and margins, while bulk players must compete on volume. Analyzing HS Code 030743 trade data suggests that market entry or expansion should target specific quality tiers to avoid price wars and leverage Argentina's diversified supply in frozen squid.

Check Detailed HS Code 030743 Breakdown

Argentina Frozen Squid Export (HS 030743) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China is the main buyer of Argentina's Frozen Squid exports in August 2025, taking 62.24% of the value and 65.47% of the quantity. The quantity share is higher than the value share, showing that China buys in bulk or lower-priced versions. Shipment frequency is 53.22%, which is high but matches the volume, meaning large, efficient shipments.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top markets split into three groups. China is the Volume cluster due to its high quantity share. Spain, South Korea, Italy, and the United States form a High-Yield cluster where value shares beat quantity shares, hinting at premium Frozen Squid demand. Spain and Italy also have high frequency shares, suggesting regular shipments for retail or fresh supply chains.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should target high-value markets like Spain and South Korea for better margins, while keeping bulk flows to China smooth. Lower export duties on farm goods, as Tridge reported, may help Frozen Squid exports by cutting costs and boosting appeal in key markets.

Table: Argentina Frozen Squid (HS 030743) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Frozen Squid Market Operation and Expansion

• Target high-value markets like Spain and Italy by analyzing HS code 030743 trade data for premium-grade demand, because it increases margins and reduces reliance on bulk, lower-price sales to China in Argentina's Frozen Squid export.
• Diversify the Frozen Squid supply chain by securing multiple shipping routes and buyers beyond China, as this protects against geopolitical risks and ensures consistent revenue from Argentina's export operations.
• Use shipment frequency data from the HS code 030743 trade data to align production cycles with buyer demand in key markets, preventing inventory overstock and optimizing cash flow for Argentina's Frozen Squid export.
• Segment product offerings into bulk and premium grades using the detailed HS code structure, enabling tailored pricing strategies that capture value across different buyer types in the global Frozen Squid supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Frozen Squid Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The August 2025 export value of $23.91 million reflects a sharp downturn from earlier peaks, likely due to seasonal seafood industry cycles and supply chain adjustments. A temporary export halt in July and Argentina’s reduced export duties may also influence the partial recovery.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Frozen Squid (HS Code 030743) 2025 August?

China dominates with 62.24% of the export value, followed by Spain, South Korea, Italy, and the U.S., which form a high-yield cluster with premium demand.

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

Price differences stem from product grading: bulk shipments (e.g., 03074310110 at ~3.00 USD/kg) target China, while premium grades (e.g., 03074310130 at ~3.69–3.91 USD/kg) supply Spain and Italy.

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

Exporters should prioritize premium-grade shipments to high-value markets like Spain and South Korea for better margins, while maintaining bulk flows to China for volume stability.

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

Buyers in China benefit from bulk pricing, while those in Spain/Italy access higher-quality squid. The fragmented structure allows buyers to align purchases with their cost or quality needs.

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

Frozen squid is traded as both a bulk commodity (e.g., for processing) and a premium product (e.g., retail or fresh supply chains), with quality tiers driving price differentiation.