Argentina Molluscs Export Market -- HS Code 0307 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s molluscs exports under HS code 0307 surged in April 2025, rebounding 52% from March’s downturn, signaling market stabilization. The trade is dominated by frozen cuttlefish and squid, with China absorbing 78% of export value, reflecting heavy reliance on bulk shipments to a single market. High-value buyers drive most transactions, though premium opportunities exist in markets like the U.S. and France. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, covers April 2025.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Background

What is HS Code 0307?

HS Code 0307 covers molluscs, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, or in brine, as well as flour, meals, and pellets of aquatic invertebrates. This category is critical for global seafood trade, serving food processing, retail, and aquaculture industries. Stable demand is driven by its versatility in culinary applications and protein-rich nutritional profile.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The 2025 U.S. Trade Policy highlights ongoing scrutiny of foreign trade barriers, including seafood imports [USTR], while the Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions reflect dynamic regulatory adjustments [USITC]. Argentina’s molluscs export sector is strategically positioned to leverage its extensive coastline and aquaculture capabilities, meeting global demand. However, evolving tariffs and non-tariff measures necessitate vigilance in tracking HS Code 0307 trade data to maintain competitiveness. Argentina’s role as a key supplier underscores the need for real-time market intelligence.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's molluscs exports under HS code 0307 reached 546.80 million USD in April 2025, with an average unit price of 6.00 USD per kg, marking a significant recovery from the previous month's downturn.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Molluscs Export trend showed volatility in early 2025, with value peaking in February before a sharp drop in March due to reduced shipment volumes. The April rebound, with a 52% month-over-month increase in value, aligns with seasonal demand cycles and adjustments from recent HS code revisions, as outlined in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule [Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2025) Revision 5], which likely facilitated smoother export processes. This recovery suggests stabilizing trade conditions and reinforces the importance of monitoring the hs code 0307 value trend for future performance indicators.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export activities under HS Code 0307 in April 2025 are heavily concentrated in frozen cuttle fish and squid, specifically the sub-code for "Molluscs; cuttle fish and squid, whether in shell or not, frozen." According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 88% of the export value and 93% of the weight, with a unit price of 5.67 USD per kilogram. A few entries with extremely low unit prices, such as 0.12 USD per kilogram for similar products, are isolated as anomalies and excluded from the main analysis due to their negligible impact on overall trade.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes can be grouped into two main categories based on unit price and product type. The first category includes various frozen cuttle fish and squid items with unit prices around 5 to 6 USD per kilogram, representing the bulk commodity segment. The second category consists of higher-value products like frozen scallops at 17.28 USD per kilogram and a premium cuttle fish variant at 10.17 USD per kilogram, indicating some differentiation in quality or processing. This structure shows that Argentina's HS Code 0307 trade data reflects a market with both standardized bulk exports and niche, higher-grade offerings.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The high concentration in a single product type suggests strong pricing power for dominant exporters of frozen cuttle fish and squid under Argentina's HS Code 0307 export framework. Strategic focus should prioritize maintaining consistent quality for the bulk segment while exploring opportunities in premium products like scallops to diversify and capture higher margins. Market players should leverage this insight to negotiate better terms and monitor grade variations for competitive advantage.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0307) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China is the dominant buyer of Argentina's molluscs, taking 78% of the total export value in April 2025. This trade relationship is defined by bulk shipments. China's share of the total weight (84.29%) is larger than its share of the value, showing a focus on large-volume, lower-unit-price trade. The high shipment frequency also points to a steady, high-volume supply chain for molluscs from Argentina.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The other buyers form two clear groups. Spain and Thailand represent a high-frequency cluster, with a combined shipment frequency of over 16%. This suggests regular, likely smaller, shipments that could be destined for fresh food markets or regional distribution centers. A second cluster, including the United States, France, and Japan, shows a premium profile. Their value share is significantly higher than their weight share, indicating imports of higher-value molluscs products from Argentina.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The export strategy for Argentina's molluscs should continue to prioritize the high-volume logistics required for the Chinese market. Concurrently, there is a clear opportunity to grow revenue by increasing focus on high-value markets like the United States and France. Encouraging more exports of processed or premium-grade molluscs to these countries can help capture higher margins without a major increase in shipment volume.

Table: Argentina Molluscs (HS 0307) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Molluscs (HS 0307) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

In April 2025, the Argentina Molluscs Export buyers market is segmented into four groups based on value and frequency, according to yTrade data. The high-value low-frequency cluster is typically dominant for commodities like molluscs, representing large, bulk purchases that define the usual trade flow. This structure highlights the concentration of value in fewer, significant transactions for HS code 0307 trade data.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining clusters include high-value high-frequency, low-value high-frequency, and low-value low-frequency buyers. For Argentina Molluscs Export, the dominant high-value low-frequency group points to an intermediated market, where trading companies or agents manage most sales. The profile of HS code 0307 buyers indicates that these are often distributors or wholesalers, common in commodity trades where bulk handling is key.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

Argentine exporters should prioritize securing deals with high-value buyers to maximize returns, while monitoring low-frequency clusters for stability risks. The news on U.S. trade policy from March 2025, such as the USTR report on barriers [USTR], suggests potential export challenges, urging a flexible sales approach to adapt to regulatory changes. (USTR) This reinforces the need for diversified buyer engagement to mitigate vulnerabilities in the four segments.

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Action Plan for Molluscs Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize exporting premium-grade frozen scallops and cuttlefish to high-value markets like the U.S. and France, as their unit prices in the hs code 0307 trade data are over three times higher than bulk squid, to immediately increase revenue per shipment and diversify the Argentina Molluscs Export portfolio.
• Strengthen relationships with high-value, low-frequency buyers identified in the trade data to secure large, stable contracts; this protects against demand volatility and ensures predictable cash flow for the Molluscs supply chain.
• Develop a dedicated logistics strategy for the Chinese market to handle its massive volume share (over 84% of total weight), optimizing container usage and shipping routes to protect margins in this high-volume, lower-margin segment.
• Continuously monitor U.S. trade policy updates, like the USTR report on barriers, and adapt sales strategies quickly; this mitigates geopolitical risk and prevents sudden disruptions to the Argentina Molluscs Export flow.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Molluscs Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Molluscs Export 2025 April?

The April 2025 rebound in Argentina's molluscs exports (+52% MoM) reflects seasonal demand recovery and smoother trade processes after recent HS code revisions. The market remains dominated by frozen cuttle fish and squid, which account for 88% of export value.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Molluscs (HS Code 0307) 2025 April?

China dominates with 78% of export value, followed by Spain, Thailand, the U.S., France, and Japan. China's shipments represent 84% of total weight, indicating bulk trade focus.

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

Price differences stem from product grade variations: bulk frozen cuttle fish/squid (5-6 USD/kg) ships mainly to China, while premium products like scallops (17.28 USD/kg) target the U.S., France, and Japan.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-value bulk buyers (China) while expanding premium product shipments to markets like the U.S. and France. Diversifying buyer segments mitigates risks from regulatory changes.

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

Chinese buyers benefit from steady bulk supply, while U.S./EU/Japanese buyers access niche high-value products. Trading companies play a key role as intermediaries in this commodity-driven market.

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

Argentina's HS Code 0307 exports are primarily frozen cuttle fish and squid (93% of weight), used for wholesale distribution and food processing, with a smaller premium segment for retail or specialty markets.