Argentina Groundnuts Export Market -- HS Code 1202 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Groundnuts Export (HS 1202) Key Takeaways

Argentina's groundnuts export under HS Code 1202 in February 2025 reveals a premium-driven market, with shelled, unroasted grades commanding 42% of export value at $4.64/kg. Despite an 11.7% monthly value drop, unit prices surged 9.3%, signaling a strategic shift toward higher-margin shipments. Buyer concentration is high, dominated by trading intermediaries, while the Netherlands alone absorbed 44% of exports, reflecting its role as a quality-focused hub. This analysis covers February 2025 and is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Groundnuts Export (HS 1202) Background

What is HS Code 1202?

HS Code 1202 covers ground-nuts, not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken. This product is a key agricultural commodity, primarily used in food processing (e.g., snacks, oils) and animal feed. Global demand remains stable due to its versatility and nutritional value, making it a significant trade item.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina has temporarily eliminated export taxes on grains, including soybeans and corn, until October 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. While this policy does not explicitly mention groundnuts, it reflects Argentina’s broader push to boost agricultural exports. As the world’s second-largest exporter of groundnuts [OEC], Argentina’s trade policies directly impact global supply chains. Monitoring HS Code 1202 trade data is critical for stakeholders navigating shifts in Argentina’s groundnuts export landscape amid competitive pressures.

Argentina Groundnuts Export (HS 1202) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's groundnuts exports for February 2025 reached $235.27 million, though this represented a 11.7% decline from January's $266.35 million. The hs code 1202 value trend was notably supported by a sharp increase in unit price, which rose 9.3% month-over-month to $4.12/kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Groundnuts Export trend in early 2025 shows a clear shift toward higher-value shipments. While export volume fell 19.2% from January to 57.11 million kg, the concurrent rise in average price points to a strategic focus on maximizing returns per unit. This pricing momentum aligns with typical industry behavior when exporters anticipate favorable policy shifts or supply constraints, prioritizing margin over volume in the short term.

External Context and Outlook

The price strength and shifting trade dynamics are directly linked to Argentina's elimination of export taxes on grains and oilseeds, including groundnuts, effective from September 2025 through October 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy significantly enhanced the competitiveness of Argentine exports, creating immediate pressure on international rivals like U.S. growers [Agrolatam]. With the tax suspension temporary, exporters appear to be capitalizing on the window of opportunity, though the overall value decline in February suggests some volume adjustment to market demand. The outlook remains tied to both global demand and the expiration timeline of the current tax policy.

Argentina Groundnuts Export (HS 1202) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In February 2025, Argentina's export of groundnuts under HS Code 1202 shows strong concentration in a high-value grade, with the sub-code for shelled, unroasted groundnuts commanding a unit price of 4.64 USD per kilogram and accounting for over 42% of the total export value. According to yTrade data, this dominating product represents the premium segment of Argentina HS Code 1202 Export, indicating a focus on quality-driven markets. One anomalous entry with no measurable unit price has been isolated from the analysis due to inconsistent data.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes fall into two clear categories based on unit price: a mid-tier group around 3.75-3.98 USD per kilogram and a lower-tier group near 3.30-3.58 USD per kilogram, all describing raw, shelled groundnuts. This structure, revealed in HS Code 1202 trade data, suggests a commodity trade with slight differentiation by quality grade rather than significant value-added processing, meaning products are largely fungible but priced based on perceived quality variations.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This grade-based differentiation allows exporters of the higher-priced product to exert moderate pricing power by targeting buyers willing to pay for premium quality. For Argentina HS Code 1202 Export, the strategic focus should be on maintaining consistent quality standards to preserve market share in value-sensitive segments, while the broader commodity nature limits overall pricing flexibility against global indices.

Check Detailed HS Code 1202 Breakdown

Argentina Groundnuts Export (HS 1202) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Argentina's groundnuts export in February 2025 was highly concentrated. The Netherlands was the dominant buyer, taking 44.32% of the total export value. This share was slightly higher than its 42.34% share of the total weight, suggesting its purchases included a slightly higher-grade or more processed form of the commodity. Shipments to the Netherlands also accounted for over a third of all transactions, indicating a steady and high-volume trade relationship for HS Code 1202 products.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations form three clear clusters. The Netherlands stands alone as the high-yield partner, with its value share outpacing its volume share. Poland is the volume hub, accounting for 15.68% of the total weight but only 8.95% of the value, which points to large purchases of raw, bulk groundnuts. The remaining European nations, including the UK, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, form a transactional cluster. They show a high frequency of shipments relative to the volume and value they import, which is typical for smaller, more frequent orders common in regional food distribution networks.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For future growth, Argentina's groundnuts export strategy should focus on two areas. First, it should work to secure and expand its high-margin trade with the Netherlands. Second, it must optimize its supply chain and logistics for high-volume, bulk shipments to partners like Poland to maintain cost competitiveness. The high frequency of shipments to multiple European buyers requires reliable and efficient shipping routes to support this just-in-time delivery model for food products.

Table: Argentina Groundnuts (HS 1202) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Argentina Groundnuts (HS 1202) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Argentina Groundnuts Export buyer market in February 2025 was dominated by one key segment of buyers. This group accounted for the largest share of total export value. The typical trade for Argentina's groundnuts involved medium-sized, regular shipments. The four segments of buyers show a clear split between high and low value and frequency patterns.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 1202 buyers indicates an intermediated market. The dominant group likely consists of trading companies and international distributors who handle bulk agricultural commodities. Other buyer segments include smaller, frequent purchasers and occasional bulk buyers. This structure points to an agent-driven supply chain for Argentina's groundnuts, where specialized traders manage most export flows rather than direct sales to end manufacturers.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentine groundnut exporters, the buyer structure suggests focusing on relationship management with trading partners. The market's dependence on intermediaries creates vulnerability to global price shifts and trader consolidation. The temporary elimination of export taxes until October 2025 [Global Trade Alert] provides a short-term advantage but requires quick adaptation to maintain competitive pricing when taxes potentially resume.

Check Full Groundnuts Buyer lists

Action Plan for Groundnuts Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Groundnuts Export market is a quality-differentiated commodity trade. Core price drivers are product grade and destination market. High-value buyers like the Netherlands pay premiums for superior quality. The broader market competes on global price indices.

The Groundnuts supply chain is intermediated and concentrated. Trading firms handle most exports. This creates vulnerability to price shifts and trader consolidation. Shipment patterns are split between high-volume bulk routes and frequent smaller deliveries. This requires a dual logistics strategy.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Groundnuts Market Execution and Expansion

• Use hs code 1202 trade data to track buyer purchase frequency. This identifies restocking cycles. It helps align production and shipping schedules with actual demand to prevent overstock or shortages.
• Analyze unit price by destination to identify premium markets. Focus sales and marketing on buyers in countries like the Netherlands. This strategy protects profit margins by leveraging quality-based pricing power.
• Diversify the buyer portfolio by targeting smaller, high-frequency European importers. This reduces dependence on a few large traders. It builds a more resilient and stable export flow for Argentina's Groundnuts Export.
• Monitor for the potential reinstatement of export taxes in October 2025. Adjust pricing models in advance. This prevents sudden cost shocks that could make Argentine groundnuts less competitive on the global market.
• Optimize logistics for the high-volume, low-margin trade with partners like Poland. Negotiate bulk shipping rates. This maintains cost competitiveness for large commodity shipments and secures volume-based market share.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Groundnuts Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Groundnuts Export 2025 February?

Argentina's groundnut exports saw an 11.7% value decline in February 2025 despite a 9.3% rise in unit prices, reflecting a strategic shift toward higher-value shipments. This aligns with the temporary elimination of export taxes, prompting exporters to prioritize margins over volume.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Groundnuts (HS Code 1202) 2025 February?

The Netherlands dominated with 44.32% of export value, followed by Poland (8.95% of value) and a cluster of European nations like the UK, Italy, and Germany handling smaller, frequent orders.

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

Price differences stem from grade specialization: the Netherlands paid premium rates (4.64 USD/kg) for high-quality shelled groundnuts, while Poland’s bulk purchases of mid-tier grades (3.30–3.98 USD/kg) drove lower average prices.

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

Exporters should strengthen relationships with trading intermediaries (handling 42% of value) and optimize logistics for high-volume buyers like Poland while securing premium Dutch contracts to maximize margins.

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

Buyers face a reliable but intermediated supply chain, with trading companies controlling bulk flows. Dutch buyers access premium grades, while others like Poland benefit from cost-efficient bulk purchases.

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

Argentina’s exports focus on raw, shelled groundnuts, primarily for food distribution networks, with premium grades targeting quality-sensitive markets and bulk shipments serving commodity buyers.