2025 Argentina Crustaceans (HS 0306) Export: V-Shaped Recovery

Key Takeaways

Crustaceans, classified under HS Code 0306 (Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; crustaceans in shell cooked by steaming or boiling), exhibited high volatility from January to September 2025.

• Market Pulse: A V-shaped trajectory saw exports plummet from $225M in January to $35M by June, then surge to $298M in September—driven by Argentina’s temporary 0% export duty policy.
• Structural Shift: Argentina Crustaceans Export reliance on Spain (27% of value) creates concentration risk, but Spain’s premium pricing for processed goods offsets volume dependence.
• Product Logic: HS Code 0306 trade data reveals a split market—bulk frozen shrimp dominates volume, while cooked/prepared products command 45 USD/kg premiums.

This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Crustaceans (HS Code 0306) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Argentina Crustaceans Export trend under HS Code 0306 exhibited a pronounced V-shaped trajectory from January to September 2025. Trade opened strongly at $225M in January but contracted sharply through June, bottoming at $35M. A dramatic reversal occurred in August ($159M) and September ($298M), with the latter month posting an 87% surge from August's already elevated base.

Drivers & Industry Context

The mid-year collapse aligns with typical seasonal patterns in crustacean harvesting and processing cycles, but the explosive Q3 recovery was directly catalyzed by policy intervention. Argentina's Decree 682 established a 0% export duty effective September 23, 2025, for specified goods until October 31 or a $7B sales cap (KPMG). While crustaceans weren't explicitly named, the surge in hs code 0306 value suggests exporters accelerated shipments to capitalize on the duty suspension window. This policy built upon earlier regulatory simplifications via Decree 35/2025 in January, which streamlined food export procedures by aligning with destination country standards (USDA). The convergence of eased paperwork and temporary duty relief created a powerful incentive for exporters to clear inventories and lock in tax-free margins ahead of the October deadline.

Table: Argentina Crustaceans Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina HS Code 0306 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

Argentina's HS Code 0306 export market is dominated by frozen, cooked shrimp and prawns in shell, which accounted for over a third of the total export value in the first three quarters of 2025. According to yTrade data, this category alone represented 37% of the total export revenue. The remaining exports consist primarily of lower-value frozen shrimp and prawns, with a minor presence of frozen crab products.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

The trade structure reveals a clear quality and processing divide, with unit prices ranging from roughly 7 to 45 USD per kilogram. The highest-value exports are cooked and prepared products, indicating buyers pay a premium for convenience and processing. This HS Code 0306 breakdown shows a hybrid market: it has commodity-style volume in lower-priced frozen goods but demonstrates value-add potential in prepared items, where quality and form dictate price rather than pure volume.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0306) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Crustaceans Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Spain dominates Argentina's Crustaceans export destinations, capturing over 27% of total export value from January to October 2025. This heavy reliance on a single market introduces significant concentration risk, where any economic or regulatory shift in Spain could destabilize Argentina's export revenue. The next largest partners, China and Italy, hold substantially smaller shares, failing to provide a balanced counterweight to Spain's outsized influence.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

Spain’s value ratio of 27.32% sharply outpaces its weight share of 20.94%, signaling a quality-conscious market paying premium prices for high-value specifications. This value-volume gap points to demand for processed, higher-margin products rather than bulk commodities. Argentina's trade partners for Crustaceans thus offer stronger margin potential than pure volume scale, with Spain acting as the key premium outlet.

Table: Argentina Crustaceans (HS Code 0306) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Crustaceans Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export markets: Reduce reliance on Spain by targeting China and Italy, where demand exists but share is underdeveloped.
• Capitalize on policy windows: Monitor Argentina’s export duty updates—accelerate shipments during tax suspensions to lock in margins.
• Shift to value-add production: Prioritize cooked/prepared shrimp (37% of export value) to align with Spain’s premium pricing and mitigate bulk commodity risks.
• Audit logistics costs: Lower-margin frozen goods require leaner supply chains to preserve profitability amid volatility.
• Renegotiate contracts: Use September’s $298M surge as leverage for shorter-term agreements to adapt to policy-driven price swings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's Crustaceans exports surged in Q3 2025 due to a temporary 0% export duty policy, which incentivized accelerated shipments. The market also rebounded from seasonal lows, supported by earlier regulatory simplifications for food exports.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Crustaceans (HS Code 0306) in 2025?

Spain is the dominant buyer, accounting for 27% of export value, followed by China and Italy. Spain’s premium demand significantly outweighs its volume share, indicating a focus on high-value products.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Crustaceans Export in 2025?

Prices vary due to product segmentation—Spain pays premium rates for processed, cooked shrimp and prawns, while other markets primarily purchase lower-value frozen goods.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-margin processed products for Spain while diversifying to mitigate overreliance on a single market. Timing shipments to leverage policy windows (e.g., duty suspensions) can maximize returns.

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

Buyers in Spain benefit from premium processed goods, while other markets receive bulk frozen products. The export surge suggests short-term supply availability but underscores reliance on Argentina’s policy shifts.

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

Argentina’s HS Code 0306 exports are primarily frozen or cooked shrimp and prawns, with higher-value processed products catering to premium markets and bulk frozen goods serving commodity demand.

Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report

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