Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export Market -- HS Code 283691 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export (HS 283691) Key Takeaways

Argentina's lithium carbonate exports under HS Code 283691 in February 2025 were entirely focused on bulk-grade material, with a 16.97 USD/kg unit price, but faced an 18% value drop from January amid post-holiday demand adjustments. The trade is heavily concentrated in China (76% of volume), exposing market risk, while premium buyers like South Korea and Japan offer higher-margin opportunities. This analysis, based on processed Customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Argentina's strategic reliance on a single product and the need to diversify toward high-value markets.

Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export (HS 283691) Background

What is HS Code 283691?

HS Code 283691 refers to Carbonates; lithium carbonate, a critical industrial chemical primarily used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. Its demand is driven by the global shift toward renewable energy and electrification, making it a strategically significant commodity. The product is also utilized in ceramics, glass manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, further underpinning its stable market importance.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade policy announcements have been made, the Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export market remains pivotal due to the country's vast lithium reserves and growing production capacity. Global lithium prices are influenced by EV adoption rates and supply chain dynamics, requiring close monitoring of hs code 283691 trade data. Argentina's role as a key exporter positions it to capitalize on rising demand, but market volatility necessitates vigilance to navigate shifts in trade flows and pricing trends.

Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export (HS 283691) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Lithium Carbonate exports in February 2025 totaled 140.37 million USD at a unit price of 16.97 USD per kg, marking a shift from the previous month's performance.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export trend declined sequentially in February, with value falling 18% and volume down 20% from January, despite a slight 2.1% rise in unit price. This pullback aligns with typical post-holiday demand adjustments and potential inventory recalibration in the battery supply chain. The hs code 283691 value trend suggests a cautious start to the year, possibly influenced by global economic uncertainties and local currency volatility affecting export dynamics.

Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export (HS 283691) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for February 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 283691 is fully concentrated in Lithium Carbonate, with a unit price of 16.97 USD per kilogram, indicating a specialized bulk chemical product that dominates all trade metrics.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

With no other sub-codes present, the export structure is entirely focused on Lithium Carbonate, which is typically traded as a fungible bulk commodity, often tied to global price indices for battery-grade materials, suggesting a market driven by standardized quality rather than differentiated goods.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This complete concentration implies strong pricing power for Argentine exporters in the global lithium market, but it also underscores a strategic dependence on this single product, necessitating a focus on cost efficiency and quality control to maintain competitiveness.

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Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export (HS 283691) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Argentina's lithium carbonate exports in February 2025 were heavily concentrated. China was the dominant destination, receiving 75.94% of the total export value and 77.06% of the weight. This high volume share, slightly exceeding the value share, confirms the trade is for bulk, raw material. The United States was the second-largest partner by volume, accounting for 41.85% of the weight but only 17.21% of the value, indicating shipments of a lower-value product variant.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade data reveals two distinct clusters beyond the top two. A volume cluster includes the Netherlands and Spain, which together account for a small portion of total weight. The more significant group is a high-yield cluster. South Korea is the standout, representing 4.54% of the total export value from Argentina with a minimal 0.02% share of the quantity. This massive disparity points to shipments of high-purity, battery-grade lithium carbonate, which commands a premium price per kilogram. Japan and India also fit this profile, showing a higher value share relative to their minimal volume.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's lithium carbonate export strategy, the data suggests a two-pronged approach. The bulk of operations will continue servicing high-volume contracts with China and the US, requiring optimized logistics for cost-effective shipping of raw material. The larger opportunity lies in capturing more value by expanding exports to premium markets. Actively targeting more buyers in the high-yield cluster, like South Korea and Japan, can significantly increase overall revenue without a major increase in production volume.

Table: Argentina Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Lithium Carbonate Market Operation and Expansion

• Target premium buyers in high-yield markets like South Korea and Japan using hs code 283691 trade data to identify specific companies. This will increase the average selling price for Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export without requiring a significant increase in production volume.
• Optimize the Lithium Carbonate supply chain for cost-effective bulk shipments to high-volume partners like China. This secures the volume-driven revenue base by minimizing logistics expenses for raw material exports.
• Use detailed hs code 283691 trade data to negotiate contracts based on quality grades and global index pricing. This ensures Argentina's exporters capture maximum value by aligning prices with the specific product grade being shipped.
• Develop a dual-track strategy that separates supply chains for bulk commodity and high-purity battery-grade material. This protects the overall Argentina Lithium Carbonate Export business from price volatility in either market segment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's lithium carbonate exports declined by 18% in value and 20% in volume from January 2025, likely due to post-holiday demand adjustments and global economic uncertainties. The slight 2.1% rise in unit price suggests cautious market recalibration.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) 2025 February?

China dominated with 75.94% of export value, followed by the U.S. (17.21%). South Korea, Japan, and India formed a high-yield cluster, with South Korea accounting for 4.54% of value despite minimal volume.

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

Price differences reflect product grades: bulk shipments to China and the U.S. trade at lower values, while premium markets like South Korea receive high-purity, battery-grade lithium carbonate at a premium.

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

Exporters should prioritize cost-efficient bulk shipments to China/U.S. while expanding into high-yield markets (e.g., South Korea, Japan) to capture premium pricing without major production increases.

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

Buyers in China/U.S. benefit from stable bulk supply, while high-yield markets gain access to premium-grade material. Dependence on Argentina’s concentrated exports may require diversification for risk-sensitive buyers.

Q6. How is Lithium Carbonate typically used in this trade flow?

It serves as a raw material for battery production, particularly in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, traded as a standardized bulk commodity or high-purity specialty grade.