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

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s molluscs exports under HS code 0307 surged to $476 million in January 2025, driven by bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid, which dominate 97% of trade value but reflect low pricing power. The market relies heavily on China, absorbing 90% of shipments, while premium buyers like France and the U.S. present untapped high-margin opportunities. Buyer concentration is high, with intermediaries dominating transactions, increasing vulnerability to demand shocks. This analysis, covering January 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

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 product is critical for global food supply chains, particularly in the seafood and aquaculture industries, where demand remains stable due to its use in both direct consumption and processed food products. Argentina's molluscs export under this code is part of a broader trade in high-value marine commodities.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina has implemented a 0% export duty rate for certain goods, including agricultural and marine products, until October 2025 or until export sales reach $7 billion [KPMG]. This policy shift, combined with the U.S. removal of reciprocal tariffs on food products [STR Trade], creates a favorable environment for Argentina’s molluscs export. The country’s strategic position in Latin America and its alignment with Mercosur trade standards further enhance its role as a key supplier. Monitoring hs code 0307 trade data is essential to capitalize on these opportunities and navigate potential policy shifts.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's molluscs exports under HS code 0307 reached $476.03 million in January 2025, marking a substantial value for the month and highlighting the sector's importance to the country's trade economy.

Price and Volume Dynamics

With January serving as the start of the year, this export value sets a strong initial benchmark. The Argentina Molluscs Export trend often experiences seasonal peaks during the Southern Hemisphere's summer months, driven by favorable fishing conditions and increased harvesting activity, which likely supported this performance. However, without prior monthly data, sequential growth patterns cannot be determined, though the hs code 0307 value trend suggests a solid opening for 2025.

External Context and Outlook

External factors, such as fluctuations in the Argentine peso and global demand for seafood, typically play a key role in export dynamics. Currency volatility can affect trade competitiveness, while international market conditions for molluscs may influence shipment volumes and values moving forward.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of HS Code 0307 in January 2025 is heavily concentrated on frozen cuttlefish and squid, specifically under sub-code 03074310110. According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 97% of the export value and 99% of the weight, with a unit price of 4.77 USD per kilogram. This dominance indicates a specialized focus on bulk frozen molluscs. Extreme price anomalies are present in sub-codes like frozen octopus at 0.61 USD per kilogram and certain cuttlefish lines below 1 USD per kilogram, which are isolated from the main analysis due to their negligible volume and potential data irregularities.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes reveal a two-tier structure based on quality and form. High-value frozen scallops command a premium at 15.53 USD per kilogram, suggesting a niche, differentiated product. Mid-range frozen cuttlefish and squid variants, with prices between 5.37 and 9.81 USD per kilogram, indicate slight variations in processing or grade. The overall market leans toward fungible bulk commodities, as the vast majority of exports are standardized frozen items, with limited value-add stages evident in the HS Code 0307 trade data from Argentina.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This structure implies low pricing power for the bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid exports, which are likely traded on commodity indices. For market players, strategic focus should shift toward developing higher-value products like scallops to improve margins. Analyzing Argentina's HS Code 0307 export patterns shows that diversification into premium grades could enhance competitiveness and reduce reliance on volatile bulk markets.

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Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

China Mainland is the dominant destination for Argentina's Molluscs exports in January 2025, holding over 90% of both value and weight shares. The value share of 90.05% is slightly lower than the weight share of 91.99%, indicating that shipments to China consist of bulk or lower-end Molluscs variants, such as frozen or raw products. The frequency share of 58.87% is much lower than the volume shares, suggesting infrequent but large bulk shipments, which is common for commodity exports like seafood.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Export partners fall into two main clusters based on share profiles. The High-Yield Cluster includes France, United States, Norway, and Brazil, where value shares exceed weight shares, reflecting demand for higher-grade or processed Molluscs, possibly for premium markets. The Transactional Cluster consists of Thailand and South Korea, where frequency shares are disproportionately high compared to value, indicating frequent, smaller shipments that likely serve retail or fresh food supply chains with just-in-time logistics.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should prioritize expanding into high-margin markets like France and the United States by focusing on premium Molluscs products. For bulk destinations like China, streamline logistics to reduce costs and maintain competitiveness. Regularly reviewing HS Code 0307 trade data will help track performance and adjust strategies for Argentina's Molluscs export growth.

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 January 2025, the Argentina Molluscs Export market is divided into four segments of buyers based on value and frequency. According to yTrade data, the dominant cluster consists of high-value buyers, which typically drive the majority of trade volume for this product. The typical trade involves regular, substantial transactions, shaping the market dynamics for Argentina Molluscs Export buyers.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The other clusters include infrequent high-value buyers and frequent low-value buyers, along with occasional small purchasers. For hs code 0307 buyer profiles, the dominant group is often intermediated, meaning trading companies or agents handle most transactions, reflecting an agent-driven market common for commodity products like molluscs. This structure highlights the role of intermediaries in facilitating Argentina Molluscs Export.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentine exporters, the buyer concentration emphasizes the need to strengthen ties with high-value clusters to ensure stable sales. The risk of over-reliance on a few buyers calls for efforts to engage with other segments to diversify. The sales model should focus on direct relationships with key intermediaries to mitigate vulnerabilities and capitalize on export opportunities.

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Action Plan for Molluscs Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The core price driver for Argentina's Molluscs Export is commodity-grade quality. The market is dominated by bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid. This product type trades on global indices, creating low pricing power. A secondary driver is the extreme geographic concentration. Over 90% of volume goes to China, creating significant geopolitical and demand risk.

This structure dictates critical Molluscs supply chain implications. The entire logistics network is optimized for infrequent, high-volume bulk shipments to a single destination. This creates vulnerability to supply chain disruption. The lack of product diversification also limits Argentina's role to a bulk supplier, missing higher-margin opportunities in processing or premium goods.

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

• Use hs code 0307 trade data to identify and target high-margin destinations like the US and France. Shift sales focus from pure volume to value. This directly counteracts over-reliance on the volatile Chinese bulk market and improves overall export profitability.
• Develop a premium product line focused on high-value items like scallops. Diversify the Argentina Molluscs Export portfolio beyond frozen cuttlefish. This builds pricing power and captures margins that the bulk commodity trade cannot provide.
• Analyze buyer frequency data to segment clients and forge direct relationships with key high-volume intermediaries. Strengthen ties with the core buyer cluster. This ensures stable offtake for bulk commodities and secures your position in the core Molluscs supply chain.
• Benchmark logistics costs for shipments to China against regional competitors. Continuously optimize the bulk supply chain for cost efficiency. This is essential to maintain competitiveness in your largest, lowest-margin market.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Molluscs Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's molluscs exports reached $476.03 million in January 2025, driven by seasonal fishing peaks and strong global demand, particularly for bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid, which dominate the trade.

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

China Mainland is the dominant destination, accounting for over 90% of exports by value and weight, followed by France, the U.S., Norway, and Brazil, which demand higher-grade products.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization—bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid (4.77 USD/kg) dominate China, while premium scallops (15.53 USD/kg) target high-margin markets like France and the U.S.

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

Exporters should diversify into premium products (e.g., scallops) for high-value markets and strengthen ties with intermediaries to mitigate reliance on China’s bulk trade.

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

Buyers in China benefit from stable bulk supply, while those in high-yield markets (e.g., France) access premium products, though reliance on intermediaries may affect direct sourcing.

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

Argentina’s exports are primarily frozen cuttlefish and squid (97% of value), used as bulk commodities in food processing, with limited high-value products like scallops for premium markets.