2025 Argentina Cheese (HS 0406) Export: Sharp Drop

Key Takeaways

Cheese, classified under HS Code 0406 (Cheese and curd), exhibited a sharp mid-year contraction from January to September 2025.

• Market Pulse: Argentina's cheese exports started strong in Q1 2025 ($84.15M monthly average) but plummeted 54.7% by May, stabilizing at $48M by September—a 44% drop from Q1 levels.
• Structural Shift: Argentina Cheese Export reliance on Brazil (46.8% of value) creates high exposure, with fragmented, high-volume shipments indicating price-sensitive bulk demand.
• Product Logic: HS Code 0406 trade data reveals a commodity-driven market, where fresh cheese dominates (50%+ share), while niche products like grated cheese command premium prices but minimal volume.

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

Argentina Cheese (HS Code 0406) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Argentina Cheese Export trend opened 2025 with robust performance in Q1, averaging $84.15M monthly, but shifted sharply in Q2. From April onward, exports entered a sustained contraction, with monthly value falling 54.7% by May and stabilizing near $48M by September—a 44% drop from the Q1 average. This trajectory reflects a strong start followed by a steep mid-year decline and a stagnant low-volume phase through Q3.

Drivers & Industry Context

The sharp Q2 contraction aligns with typical Southern Hemisphere production cycles, where reduced milk output in autumn months constrains cheese export volumes. While Argentina’s January food code reforms [USDA] simplified export procedures, the steep decline suggests other factors dominated, such as shifting global demand or competitive pressure. The late-September 0% export duty decree [KPMG] occurred too late to impact Q3 flows, leaving the hs code 0406 value depressed through the quarter.

Table: Argentina Cheese Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

According to yTrade data, Argentina's HS Code 0406 export market is dominated by fresh cheese, not fermented, which accounts for over half of both value and weight shares throughout the first three quarters of 2025. The remaining exports consist primarily of various non-grated, non-powdered cheeses, including blue-veined and other specialized types, which collectively make up the bulk of the other categories. This structure highlights a concentrated market where a single product form drives the majority of Argentina's cheese export volume and revenue.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices for Argentina's cheese exports range widely from 6.25 to 25.27 USD per kilogram, indicating a market with both commodity and specialized segments; grated cheese commands the highest price but minimal volume, while fresh cheese dominates with mid-range pricing. This HS Code 0406 breakdown suggests a primarily commodity-driven trade structure, where bulk, lower-value-added products like fresh cheese set the tone, though niche, higher-value items exist. The price sensitivity in the dominant categories points to a competitive, volume-focused export strategy for Argentina.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0406) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Cheese Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Argentina's Cheese export destinations show extreme reliance on Brazil, which captured 46.8% of total export value from January to September 2025. This single-market dependence creates significant exposure to Brazilian economic or regulatory shifts. The next largest partners, Chile and Russia, hold shares below 19%, underscoring a concentrated trade profile with limited diversification.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

Brazil's value ratio (46.84) slightly trails its weight ratio (50.41), indicating Argentina's cheese exports face price-sensitive bulk demand, likely for industrial processing. However, the exceptionally high frequency ratio (36.81) reveals fragmented, high-volume shipments, characteristic of Just-in-Time replenishment for retail distribution. This market offers volume scale rather than premium margins, positioning Argentina as a key supplier for Brazil's mass-consumption trade partners for Cheese.

Table: Argentina Cheese (HS Code 0406) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Cheese Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export markets: Reduce dependence on Brazil by targeting Chile and Russia, which hold 19% combined share, to mitigate regulatory or economic shocks.
• Optimize logistics for bulk shipments: Brazil’s high-frequency, low-margin demand requires cost-efficient transport to maintain competitiveness in industrial cheese supply.
• Leverage premium niches: Capitalize on high-unit-price segments like grated cheese (up to $25.27/kg) with targeted branding for specialty buyers.
• Monitor production cycles: Align contracts with Southern Hemisphere milk output trends to anticipate Q2 volume drops and adjust inventory strategies.
• Activate duty-free opportunities: Argentina’s late-September 0% export duty decree could boost Q4 margins—prepare to capitalize on reduced costs.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Cheese HS Code 0406 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's cheese exports started strong in Q1 2025 but declined sharply by 54.7% in Q2, likely due to seasonal milk production drops and competitive pressures, stabilizing at a 44% lower volume by

Q3.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Cheese (HS Code 0406) in 2025?

Brazil dominates with 46.8% of export value, followed by Chile and Russia at under 19% each, reflecting heavy reliance on a single market.

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

Prices range from $6.25 to $25.27/kg due to product mix—bulk fresh cheese drives mid-range pricing, while niche grated cheese commands premiums but minimal volume.

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

Exporters should diversify beyond Brazil to mitigate risk and explore higher-value specialized cheeses to offset price sensitivity in bulk segments.

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

Brazilian buyers benefit from high-volume, price-stable shipments for mass consumption, but niche buyers may find limited premium product availability.

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

Argentina’s exports are primarily fresh cheese for industrial processing or retail distribution, with smaller volumes of specialized cheeses for niche markets.

Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JAN

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 MAR

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 APR

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 MAY

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JUN

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Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 AUG

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Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q1

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q2

Argentina HS Code 0406 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q3