Argentina Maize Export Market -- HS Code 1005 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Maize Export (HS 1005) Key Takeaways

Argentina's maize export under HS Code 1005 in February 2025 was dominated by bulk-grade trade, with 98% of volume concentrated in standard maize priced at $0.48/kg, reflecting thin margins and volume-driven competition. Export value rose 8.4% month-over-month to $1.42 billion, driven by pre-harvest price gains despite a slight volume dip. Vietnam emerged as the top buyer, accounting for 14.2% of value, while Southeast Asia and the Middle East formed key bulk-trade clusters. Buyer concentration data was unavailable, limiting strategic insights. This analysis, covering February 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Maize Export (HS 1005) Background

What is HS Code 1005?

HS Code 1005 classifies maize (corn), a staple agricultural commodity used primarily for animal feed, food production, and industrial applications like ethanol. Global demand remains stable due to its role in livestock farming and processed foods. Argentina is a key producer, making this HS code critical for tracking trade flows in the region.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In 2025, Argentina temporarily eliminated export taxes on maize (HS Code 1005) until October under Decree 682/2025, aiming to boost agricultural exports and stabilize foreign currency reserves [Aduana News]. This policy aligns with broader measures to support grain exports, including soy and wheat. Argentina’s maize export competitiveness hinges on these tax suspensions, reinforcing its position as a top global supplier. Monitoring hs code 1005 trade data is essential to assess the impact of these policies and anticipate shifts in Argentina’s maize export volumes. Vigilance is advised as the exemption period nears its end.

Argentina Maize Export (HS 1005) Price Trend

Key Observations

In February 2025, Argentina's maize exports under HS code 1005 reached 1.42 billion USD, with an average unit price of 0.48 USD per kilogram. This represents a solid performance, building on the previous month's figures.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Maize Export trend demonstrated a sequential improvement from January, with export value increasing by 8.4% month-over-month to 1.42 billion USD. This growth was primarily driven by an 11.6% rise in unit price to 0.48 USD per kilogram, which offset a slight 2.3% decline in volume to 2.98 billion kilograms. The price increase aligns with typical agricultural cycles, as February falls within the pre-harvest period for maize in Argentina, often leading to tighter supply and upward pressure on prices before the main harvest in March-April.

External Context and Outlook

The hs code 1005 value trend in early 2025 likely responded to broader macro-economic factors, such as global demand shifts for feed grains and currency fluctuations affecting export competitiveness. While specific policy changes later in the year are not applicable to this period, underlying economic conditions, including potential prior adjustments in trade policies, may have contributed to the observed stability and growth in export values during February.

Argentina Maize Export (HS 1005) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In February 2025, Argentina's export of maize under HS Code 1005 is overwhelmingly dominated by a single product type, specifically "Cereals; maize (corn), other than seed" from sub-code 10059010190. According to yTrade data, this sub-code accounts for over 98% of the export value and weight, with a unit price of $0.48 per kilogram, indicating a highly specialized bulk trade. A high-priced anomaly for seed maize at $10.93 per kilogram is present but isolated due to its minimal share.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes fall into two clear categories based on unit price: standard bulk maize at around $0.48 per kilogram and a slightly higher-grade segment near $1.05 per kilogram, both under similar "other than seed" descriptions. This structure confirms that Argentina's HS Code 1005 export primarily involves fungible bulk commodities, with trade likely linked to global grain indices rather than significant product differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This concentration in bulk maize implies limited pricing power for exporters, as margins are thin and competition is volume-driven. Strategic focus should remain on cost efficiency and scale, with minimal opportunity for value-added premiums in this segment of Argentina's HS Code 1005 trade data.

Check Detailed HS Code 1005 Breakdown

Argentina Maize Export (HS 1005) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Vietnam was the dominant destination for Argentina's maize exports in February 2025. It held a 14.17% value share and a 12.77% weight share, indicating a strong bulk purchase profile. The value share slightly exceeded the weight share, which points to Vietnam sourcing standard-grade maize rather than the lowest-cost options. The frequency of shipments was moderate, aligning with the typical pattern for large-scale agricultural commodity trade.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals two primary clusters among the top buyers. The first is a bulk-trade cluster, including Peru, Chile, Algeria, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. These countries show high weight and value shares with moderate to high shipment frequency, consistent with large-volume purchases of a staple commodity. Iraq is a notable member, with a very low frequency share against high volume and value, signaling exceptionally large, infrequent shipments. A second, smaller cluster includes Indonesia, Morocco, and the Philippines. They have lower volume and value shares, representing more modest, yet still significant, buyers in the global maize market.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina, the export strategy should prioritize securing and expanding relationships with bulk buyers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The market is characterized by large-volume contracts, so supply chain efficiency and reliability are critical for maintaining these partnerships. This focus is supported by a government policy that temporarily eliminated export taxes on grains, including maize, until October 2025 [Aduana News]. This measure aimed to boost foreign currency earnings by stimulating agricultural exports (Aduana News). For shipments under HS Code 1005, this policy likely improved Argentina's price competitiveness during the period, making its maize more attractive to high-volume international buyers.

Table: Argentina Maize (HS 1005) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Maize (HS 1005) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the buyer cluster information for Argentina Maize Export under hs code 1005 in February 2025 is not provided, so market concentration and the dominant cluster cannot be determined. Without this data, the typical trade pattern for Argentina Maize Export buyers remains unclear.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without access to the four segments of buyers data, the commercial personas and strategic roles for hs code 1005 trade cannot be interpreted. The characteristics of buyer clusters, such as whether they are intermediated or direct, are not available for analysis.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

Due to the absence of buyer cluster data, specific sales strategy implications and vulnerabilities for Argentina Maize Export cannot be derived. In general, maize as a commodity often involves large-scale buyers, but without detailed insights, strategic focus remains uncertain.

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Action Plan for Maize Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Maize Export under hs code 1005 is a bulk commodity trade. Its price is driven by global grain indices and standard quality grades. There is minimal value-added differentiation. The Maize supply chain must prioritize volume, cost efficiency, and delivery reliability. Key markets are bulk buyers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Argentina's temporary export tax removal until October 2025 boosts short-term price competitiveness. This policy supports scale but underscores reliance on high-volume, low-margin contracts.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Maize Market Execution and Expansion

• Maximize exports before the tax window closes in October 2025. Use hs code 1005 trade data to identify buyers with recent high-volume orders and prioritize them. This captures maximum value from the current competitive advantage.
• Target the bulk-trade cluster of buyers in Vietnam, Peru, and Algeria. Analyze their shipment frequency and volume patterns from the data to time your offers. This secures large, stable contracts that define the Argentina Maize Export market.
• Monitor competitor pricing from other major exporters in real-time. Use trade data to benchmark your offers against rivals like Brazil and the US. This prevents lost contracts and protects your market share in key regions.
• Secure long-term logistics partnerships for port and shipping capacity. Lock in freight rates based on projected volumes from historical hs code 1005 trade data. This ensures cost-effective and reliable delivery, which is critical for the Maize supply chain.
• Acquire detailed buyer cluster data to identify specific commercial personas. Partner with data providers to segment buyers by purchase size and frequency. This allows for tailored sales strategies and reduces vulnerability to losing a single large client.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Maize Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's maize exports grew 8.4% month-over-month to $1.42 billion in February 2025, driven by an 11.6% rise in unit price ($0.48/kg) due to pre-harvest supply constraints.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Maize (HS Code 1005) 2025 February?

Vietnam dominated with 14.17% of export value, followed by bulk-trade buyers like Peru, Chile, Algeria, and Iraq, which formed the primary purchasing cluster.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: bulk maize trades at $0.48/kg, while rare seed maize (under 2% share) commands $10.93/kg. Most buyers purchase standardized bulk grades.

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

Exporters should prioritize cost efficiency and scale to compete in bulk markets, while leveraging tax-free policies to secure large-volume contracts with Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern buyers.

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

Buyers benefit from stable bulk supply but face thin differentiation opportunities. Large-scale purchasers like Iraq secure infrequent, high-volume shipments at competitive rates.

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

Argentina’s HS Code 1005 exports are primarily bulk maize for feed or industrial use, with minimal value-added processing. The trade is volume-driven and linked to global commodity indices.