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

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Light Petroleum Oils exports under HS code 271012 surged to 12.72 billion USD in January 2025, driven by strong global demand and seasonal inventory builds. The market is sharply divided, with 93% of export value concentrated in a premium-grade product priced at 39.86 USD/kg, while bulk shipments trade at just 1-2 USD/kg. Export destinations are highly concentrated, with Paraguay and the U.S. accounting for 98.3% of total value, though the U.S. receives higher-grade shipments. This dual structure highlights Argentina's pricing power in premium markets but exposes bulk exports to competitive pressures. Strategic focus should prioritize premium market retention and bulk trade efficiency. This analysis covers January 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

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 derived from bituminous minerals, not crude or waste oils, and containing less than 70% biodiesel by weight. These products are critical for industries such as transportation, manufacturing, and energy due to their use as fuel and lubricants. Global demand remains stable, driven by their essential role in industrial and commercial applications.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Under the HS 2017 classification, HS Code 271012 includes petroleum oils and preparations not elsewhere specified, with strict definitions on biodiesel content [UNSD]. For Argentina's Light Petroleum Oils Export, this classification ensures clarity in trade documentation and duty assessments, as highlighted by customs data providers [Seair]. Argentina's strategic position in this trade flow is bolstered by its refining capacity and regional demand, making hs code 271012 trade data vital for monitoring export trends and policy impacts. Market vigilance is essential to navigate shifting global energy dynamics and local production cycles.

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Light Petroleum Oils exports under HS code 271012 reached a value of 12.72 billion USD in January 2025, marking a significant monthly performance in the energy sector.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export trend for January likely reflects robust global demand and seasonal inventory builds typical in the petroleum industry post-holiday periods. Amid stable macroeconomic conditions, including potential currency advantages and steady crude oil input costs, this hs code 271012 value trend suggests a strong start to the year, aligning with broader market cycles rather than specific policy-driven shifts.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

In January 2025, Argentina's export of Light Petroleum Oils under HS Code 271012 is dominated by a high-value specialized product, specifically the sub-code for premium light oils with a unit price of 39.86 USD per kg, which accounts for over 93% of the total export value. According to yTrade data, this product stands out due to its significantly higher price compared to other sub-codes, which are priced below 2 USD per kg, indicating a clear specialization in a premium grade. This high-value sub-code is isolated from the main analysis as an anomaly due to its extreme price disparity.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes for HS Code 271012 exports from Argentina fall into a single category of bulk, low-grade petroleum oils, all with unit prices clustered around 1-2 USD per kg. This uniformity in price and product description across these sub-codes suggests a trade in fungible bulk commodities, likely driven by global market indices rather than product differentiation. The structure points to a market where these exports are standardized and compete primarily on volume and cost.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This market setup implies that Argentina has strong pricing power in the high-value niche product, allowing for premium returns, while the bulk exports face competitive pressure as price-takers. For businesses, the strategic focus should be on leveraging the high-margin specialized export and optimizing efficiency in the bulk segment to maintain competitiveness. Analyzing HS Code 271012 trade data highlights the importance of diversifying or enhancing product grades to capture more value in Argentina's export portfolio.

Check Detailed HS Code 271012 Breakdown

Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export (HS 271012) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Argentina's Light Petroleum Oils exports in January 2025 were heavily concentrated. Paraguay and the United States were the dominant destinations, together accounting for 98.3% of the total export value. Paraguay held a 51.66% value share, while the United States held a 46.61% value share. The trade profile shows a key difference; the US had a higher unit price, indicating it receives a higher-grade product. Paraguay's shipments, with a lower unit price, point to trade in a more standard or lower-end variant of the oil.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The remaining trade partners form distinct clusters. Chile stands out as a Transactional Cluster, with a high shipment frequency (28.73%) but a very low value share (1.19%). This pattern suggests frequent, smaller shipments, likely for regional distribution or specific industrial needs. Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Uruguay form a Minor Volume Cluster. Their combined activity represents very small shares of the total export volume and value for Argentina's HS Code 271012 trade, indicating these are secondary, niche markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The export strategy for Argentina's Light Petroleum Oils should focus on two main areas. First, protect the high-value relationship with the United States by ensuring consistent quality and supply for this premium market. Second, streamline logistics and supply chain operations for the high-volume trade with Paraguay to maintain cost efficiency for these bulk shipments. The high-frequency, lower-volume trade with Chile and others requires a reliable and flexible shipping schedule to efficiently service these smaller, recurring orders.

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

• Prioritize premium-grade shipments to the U.S. by monitoring hs code 271012 trade data for quality consistency, securing higher margins in this key market for Argentina Light Petroleum Oils Export.
• Optimize the Light Petroleum Oils supply chain for bulk shipments to Paraguay using dedicated logistics to reduce costs and maintain volume competitiveness.
• Implement flexible shipping schedules for high-frequency, low-volume buyers like Chile to ensure reliable service without disrupting bulk operations.
• Use detailed hs code 271012 trade data to identify potential new markets for premium product variants, diversifying beyond the current geographic concentration.
• Continuously track global oil price indices and geopolitical factors impacting the Light Petroleum Oils supply chain to anticipate risks and adjust export strategies proactively.

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 January?

The strong export value of 12.72 billion USD reflects robust global demand and seasonal inventory builds in the petroleum sector post-holiday periods, supported by stable macroeconomic conditions.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Light Petroleum Oils (HS Code 271012) 2025 January?

Paraguay (51.66%) and the United States (46.61%) dominate, together accounting for 98.3% of Argentina’s export value for this product.

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

The U.S. receives a premium-grade product (39.86 USD/kg), while Paraguay and others trade in bulk, low-grade oils priced at 1-2 USD/kg, creating the price disparity.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Light Petroleum Oils export market?

They should prioritize maintaining the high-value U.S. market with consistent quality while optimizing bulk shipments to Paraguay for cost efficiency.

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

U.S. buyers secure a premium product, while Paraguay and others rely on standardized bulk shipments, requiring buyers to align procurement strategies with grade availability.

Q6. How is Light Petroleum Oils typically used in this trade flow?

Premium grades likely serve specialized industrial or refining needs, while bulk oils are fungible commodities for general energy or processing use.