Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export Market -- HS Code 271012 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Key Takeaways

Argentina's light petroleum oils export under HS Code 271012 in February 2025 reveals a two-tier market: a high-value specialized grade (82% value share) and bulk commodity shipments, with the U.S. and Paraguay dominating 81% of export value. The market saw a sharp 57% monthly decline in value, reflecting seasonal volatility and global oil price fluctuations. High-value niche markets like the Netherlands offer premium pricing opportunities, while bulk buyers demand cost efficiency. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, covers February 2025 trade flows.

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Background

What is HS Code 271012?

HS Code 271012 refers to light petroleum oils and preparations, specifically those not containing biodiesel, not crude, and not waste oils. These products are critical for industries such as transportation, manufacturing, and energy due to their use as fuel and feedstock. Global demand remains stable, driven by their essential role in industrial and commercial applications.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Under the HS, 2017 - Code 271012 classification [UNSD], these oils are defined as preparations containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils. Argentina's light petroleum oils export is strategically significant, given its refining capacity and regional trade partnerships. Monitoring HS Code 271012 trade data is vital for assessing market shifts, especially as global energy dynamics evolve. Argentina's position as a supplier underscores the need for vigilance in tracking export trends and policy impacts.

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Light petroleum oils exports in February 2025 totaled 5.39 billion USD at a unit price of 7.44 USD per kilogram, reflecting a sharp contraction from the previous month's performance.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Light petroleum oils Export trend showed a significant month-over-month decline in February, with value dropping by over 57% and unit price falling by nearly 47% compared to January. This volatility aligns with typical seasonal patterns in the petroleum sector, where summer months in the Southern Hemisphere often see reduced demand for certain refined products. While trade data resources like [Seair] support market transparency, the hs code 271012 value trend likely responded to broader macro-economic factors such as global oil price fluctuations or regional economic conditions, rather than specific policy shifts.

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of light petroleum oils under HS Code 271012 in February 2025 is heavily concentrated in a high-value specialized grade. According to yTrade data, the sub-code 27101259129 dominates with an 82% value share despite handling only 24% of the weight, due to its premium unit price of $24.72 per kilogram. This product description confirms it is a light oil preparation, indicating a refined, high-grade export stream distinct from bulk commodities.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes form two clear groups: bulk commodity exports and minor specialty preparations. The bulk group, including codes like 27101259121 and 27101249990, has low unit prices between $1.05–$1.55 per kilogram and accounts for most of the volume and frequency. This structure confirms the trade is split between standardized, fungible bulk oils—likely priced against global indices—and a smaller tier of slightly differentiated preparations, but overall remains commodity-driven.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This analysis of HS Code 271012 trade data shows Argentina’s exporters operate in a two-tier market. Sellers of the high-grade light oils hold strong pricing power and should focus on quality certifications and niche markets. For the bulk segment, competitiveness depends on cost efficiency and volume logistics. Companies should align their strategy with this split: either specialize in high-margin products or compete on scale in the commodity market.

Check Detailed HS Code 271012 Breakdown

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

The UNITED STATES was the dominant destination for Argentina Light petroleum oils exports in February 2025, taking 42.67% of the total value. However, its share of the total weight was even higher at 47.59%. This gap shows the trade was weighted toward bulk shipments of lower-value product variants. The market structure is highly concentrated, with the top two partners, the US and PARAGUAY, together accounting for over 81% of the total export value for HS Code 271012.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals three distinct clusters. PARAGUAY and BRAZIL form a Volume Cluster; both show high weight shares (32.85% and 11.12% respectively) that align closely with their value shares, confirming their role as major bulk buyers for regional consumption. NETHERLANDS is a clear High-Yield Cluster; it accounts for a significant 6.44% of the total value from just 0.01% of the weight, indicating shipments of very high-value, premium-grade products. A Transactional Cluster includes CHILE, BOLIVIA, and ANTARCTICA; they have high shipment frequency (27.29%, 3.28%, and 10.92%) but minimal volume and value, pointing to small, routine orders likely for specific industrial or logistical needs.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The strategy should focus on maintaining the high-volume flows to the US and Paraguayan markets while optimizing logistics to protect margins. A key opportunity lies in expanding the premium product channel to high-yield markets like the Netherlands. The high frequency of smaller shipments to regional neighbors suggests a need for efficient, flexible logistics to serve these steady, lower-volume buyers cost-effectively. This analysis of Argentina's Light petroleum oils export performance highlights a balanced mix of bulk and premium trade flows for HS Code 271012.

Table: Argentina Light Petroleum Oils (HS 271012) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Light Petroleum Oils Market Operation and Expansion

• Focus premium product marketing on high-yield destinations like the Netherlands, using hs code 271012 trade data to identify buyers of high-unit-value sub-codes. This directly targets the most profitable niche within the Argentina Light petroleum oils Export market.
• Optimize bulk shipment logistics and cost structures for high-volume partners like the US and Paraguay to protect thin margins. This secures the core revenue stream for the Argentina Light petroleum oils Export business.
• Develop a flexible logistics framework for the high-frequency, low-volume transactional cluster (e.g., Chile, Bolivia). This ensures cost-effective service for steady regional buyers within the Light petroleum oils supply chain.
• Continuously monitor sub-code level hs code 271012 trade data to spot shifts in product grade demand and adjust the export mix accordingly. This allows for proactive strategy alignment with global price drivers and maintains competitiveness.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Light petroleum oils Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Light petroleum oils Export 2025 February?

Argentina's exports of light petroleum oils saw a 57% drop in value and 47% decline in unit price compared to January 2025, likely due to seasonal demand shifts and global oil price fluctuations.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Light petroleum oils (HS Code 271012) 2025 February?

The US (42.67% of value) and Paraguay (38.33% of value) dominated, together accounting for over 81% of Argentina’s exports under this HS code.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Light petroleum oils Export?

Prices vary due to a two-tier market: bulk commodity shipments (e.g., to the US and Paraguay at $1.05–$1.55/kg) versus premium-grade oils (e.g., to the Netherlands at $24.72/kg).

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Light petroleum oils export market?

Exporters should either specialize in high-margin premium products (targeting markets like the Netherlands) or optimize cost efficiency for bulk shipments to the US and Paraguay.

Q5. What does this Argentina Light petroleum oils export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Bulk buyers (e.g., US, Paraguay) benefit from stable, low-cost supply, while niche buyers (e.g., Netherlands) access high-value specialized grades. Regional neighbors receive small, routine orders.

Q6. How is Light petroleum oils typically used in this trade flow?

The bulk shipments likely fuel industrial or energy needs, while premium grades serve specialized applications such as refined chemical preparations.