Argentina - Mainland China Trade 2025 Q2: Deficit Deepens
Key Market Takeaways: Argentina - Mainland China Trade
The bilateral trade relationship between Argentina and Mainland China shows mixed growth with widening deficits in Q2 2025.
- Deficit Deepens: Argentina’s trade deficit hit $1.84B (imports $3.94B > exports $2.10B), driven by surging Chinese machinery demand outpacing volatile agricultural exports.
- Resource-for-Tech Exchange: Argentina - Mainland China trade statistics reveal a lopsided structure: oilseeds (38% of exports) flow east, while industrial machinery (24% of imports) dominates inbound shipments.
- Asymmetric Interdependence: Highly complementary but unequal—Argentina relies on China for critical tech, while China secures raw materials with minimal value-add reciprocity.
This bilateral trade snapshot is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.
Argentina-Mainland China Trade Trend in Q2 2025
Argentina Export Performance: Shipments to Mainland China
- Total Volume: $2.10B in Q2 2025.
- Growth Trend & Context: YoY growth was mixed, with April showing a slight 4.26% increase, but May and June saw declines of -14.52% and -17.5%, respectively. No specific trade news explains this volatility.
- Key Volatility: May recorded a sharp 104.45% MoM surge, followed by a modest 4.14% rise in June.
Argentina Import Performance: Sourcing from Mainland China
- Total Volume: $3.94B in Q2 2025.
- Growth Trend & Context: YoY growth remained strong, with April and June up 92.44% and 92.14%, though May moderated to 62.42%. No policy changes were reported to contextualize the fluctuations.
- Key Volatility: May saw an 11.36% MoM drop, while April and June posted gains of 5.74% and 3.65%, respectively.
Argentina - Mainland China Trade Balance & Market Dynamics
- Net Position: Trade deficit of $1.84B (Imports $3.94B > Exports $2.10B).
- Relationship Status: Argentina remains heavily dependent on imports from Mainland China, with inbound shipments nearly double exports. The deficit widened compared to Q2 2024, driven by surging import demand.
Argentina Import Trend from Mainland China 2025 Q2 (Source: yTrade)**
| Month | Value | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr | 1.40B | 5.74% | 92.44% |
| May | 1.24B | -11.36% | 62.42% |
| Jun | 1.29B | 3.65% | 92.14% |
| Total | 3.94B | - | - |
Argentina Export Trend to Mainland China 2025 Q2 (Source: yTrade)**
| Month | Value | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr | 406.03M | 44.48% | 4.26% |
| May | 830.13M | 104.45% | -14.52% |
| Jun | 864.51M | 4.14% | -17.5% |
| Total | 2.10B | - | - |
Get Historical Argentina Mainland China Trade Records
Argentina-Mainland China Top Trading Products in Q2 2025
Argentina Export Profile: What Does Argentina Sell to Mainland China
- Top Commodity: Rank #1 Export is HS Code 12 (Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits) at 38.11% of total exports.
- Demand Driver: Mainland China uses these for industrial processing, likely as raw materials for food production or biofuels.
- Concentration: The trade is highly concentrated, with the top two categories (HS 12 and 02) accounting for 60.85% of exports.
Argentina Import Profile: What Does Argentina Buy from Mainland China
- Top Commodity: Rank #1 Import is HS Code 84 (Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery) at 23.82% of total imports.
- Dependency Nature: Critical technology dependency, as machinery and electronics dominate imports, reflecting Argentina's reliance on Mainland China for industrial equipment.
Argentina - Mainland China Trade Relationship Dynamics
- The Exchange Model: Resource-for-Tech Complementarity. Argentina exports raw materials (oilseeds, meat) and imports high-value machinery and electronics.
- Value Chain Position: Mainland China holds the higher value-add position, supplying advanced manufactured goods, while Argentina provides agricultural commodities.
Import Analysis by Product: Mainland China to Argentina (Source: yTrade)
| HS Code | Value | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | 938.37M | 23.82% |
| 85 | 922.42M | 23.42% |
| 87 | 371.74M | 9.44% |
| 29 | 327.01M | 8.30% |
| 39 | 182.72M | 4.64% |
| 90 | 108.44M | 2.75% |
| 40 | 95.35M | 2.42% |
| 73 | 89.37M | 2.27% |
| 38 | 71.57M | 1.82% |
| 95 | 64.71M | 1.64% |
Export Analysis by Product: Argentina to Mainland China (Source: yTrade)
| HS Code | Value | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 800.62M | 38.11% |
| 02 | 477.70M | 22.74% |
| 99 | 321.21M | 15.29% |
| 03 | 201.03M | 9.57% |
| 28 | 96.78M | 4.61% |
| 10 | 71.41M | 3.40% |
| 15 | 68.87M | 3.28% |
| 41 | 21.21M | 1.01% |
| 51 | 9.53M | 0.45% |
| 07 | 8.01M | 0.38% |
Check Detailed Argentina-Mainland China Trade HS Code Breakdown
Future Outlook & Strategic Recommendations
Forecast
The Argentina - Mainland China trade relationship is expected to remain volatile in the near term, with Argentina’s export performance facing headwinds due to inconsistent demand for key commodities like oilseeds (HS 12). Meanwhile, imports of Chinese machinery (HS 84) will likely sustain strong growth, driven by Argentina’s industrial dependency. The trade deficit may widen further unless Argentina diversifies its export basket or secures more stable pricing mechanisms. Traders should prepare for fluctuating volumes, particularly in agricultural shipments, while monitoring China’s industrial policy shifts for demand signals.
Strategic Moves
- Lock in Long-Term Supply Contracts: Argentine exporters of oilseeds and meat should negotiate multi-year agreements with Chinese buyers to stabilize revenue streams amid volatile pricing.
- Diversify Import Sources: Argentine manufacturers must reduce overreliance on Chinese machinery by exploring alternative suppliers in Southeast Asia or Europe to mitigate supply chain risks.
- Invest in Value-Added Processing: Argentina should prioritize upgrading its agro-industrial capacity to export higher-margin processed goods (e.g., biofuels, refined oils) rather than raw commodities, capturing more value from the trade relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Argentina - Mainland China trade perform in 2025 Q2?
Argentina exported $2.10B to Mainland China with mixed YoY growth, while imports surged to $3.94B, resulting in a widening trade deficit.
What are the top exports from Argentina to Mainland China?
Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits (HS Code 12) dominated, accounting for 38.11% of exports, followed by meat products (HS Code 02).
What does Argentina import from Mainland China?
Machinery and nuclear reactors (HS Code 84) were the top imports, making up 23.82% of total shipments from Mainland China.
What is the trade balance between Argentina and Mainland China?
Argentina recorded a trade deficit of $1.84B, with imports nearly double exports, widening compared to Q2 2024.
Argentina - Mainland China Trade 2025 Q1: Widening Deficit
Argentina's trade deficit with Mainland China hits $3.42B in Q1 2025 as China's machinery imports dominate. Explore Argentina Mainland China trade trends & top products via yTrade data.
Argentina Maize Export Market -- HS Code 1005 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)
Argentina's maize (HS Code 1005) export value rose 8.4% to $1.42B in Feb 2025, driven by Vietnam (14.2% share) and bulk trade at $0.48/kg, per yTrade data.
