Argentina Molluscs Export Market -- HS Code 0307 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q2 2025)

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Key Takeaways

Argentina's molluscs exports under HS Code 0307 in Q2 2025 were dominated by bulk frozen cuttlefish and squid, with China absorbing 75% of shipments as a low-margin bulk buyer, while higher-value scallops and premium markets like Spain and Japan offered untapped potential. Export values swung sharply from $546M in April to $102M in May, reflecting volatile trade conditions likely tied to policy shifts and seasonal demand. The market remains heavily concentrated in China, posing geographic risk, but strategic diversification into high-yield destinations could stabilize margins. This analysis covers Q2 2025 and 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 category is critical for global seafood trade, driven by demand from food processing, retail, and aquaculture industries. Its versatility and preservation methods ensure stable international demand across multiple markets.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The 2025 U.S. Trade Policy highlights ongoing scrutiny of foreign trade barriers, including seafood imports, as part of broader regulatory adjustments [USTR]. Argentina’s molluscs export sector is strategically positioned to capitalize on this environment, given its robust aquaculture infrastructure and competitive pricing. However, evolving tariff schedules and non-tariff measures, such as those outlined in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions, necessitate close monitoring of hs code 0307 trade data. Argentina’s role as a key supplier underscores the need for market vigilance to navigate potential policy shifts and maintain trade competitiveness.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's molluscs exports in Q2 2025 exhibited high volatility, with values reaching 546.80 million USD in April, dropping sharply to 102.32 million USD in May, and partially recovering to 136.67 million USD in June.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Molluscs Export trend showed instability building from Q1, where values surged to 607.48 million USD in February before declining in March. This hs code 0307 value trend likely reflects adjustments to trade policy shifts, such as the Harmonized Tariff Schedule revision by USITC in March [USITC], which may have disrupted export flows. Seasonal factors in molluscs harvesting and demand cycles could also contribute to the patterns, with the June uptick indicating tentative market recalibration.

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Argentina's export of molluscs under HS Code 0307 in Q2 2025 is heavily concentrated on frozen cuttle fish and squid, with the dominant sub-code accounting for nearly 89% of the export value at a unit price of 8.23 USD per kilogram. This high share across volume and value metrics indicates a strong specialization in bulk, frozen products for this category. A separate sub-code for frozen scallops stands out with a significantly higher unit price of 25.61 USD per kilogram, but it represents a minor share of the total trade.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure for Argentina's HS Code 0307 exports divides into two main groups based on product type and value. The first group consists of various frozen cuttle fish and squid sub-codes, with unit prices ranging from 4.67 to 12.30 USD per kilogram, representing a bulk commodity trade that is likely fungible and price-sensitive to market indices. The second group includes frozen scallops at 25.61 USD per kilogram, suggesting a higher-value, potentially differentiated product with possible quality or processing distinctions. This split implies that while the majority of exports are standard commodities, there is a niche for premium items.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For players in Argentina's HS Code 0307 export market, the dominance of bulk cuttle fish and squid limits pricing power, as prices are closely tied to global commodity fluctuations. Strategic focus should prioritize cost efficiency and volume optimization for the main product, while exploring opportunities in higher-value segments like scallops to diversify and capture better margins. Analysis of HS Code 0307 trade data shows that enhancing product quality or targeting premium markets could strengthen competitive positioning.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 0307 Breakdown

Argentina Molluscs Export (HS 0307) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In Q2 2025, Argentina's Molluscs exports were heavily concentrated, with China Mainland as the dominant destination. China accounted for 75.26% of the export value and 84.29% of the weight, but the weight share exceeded the value share. This gap suggests that shipments to China consist mainly of bulk, raw, or lower-end Molluscs, rather than premium products. The frequency share was 53.30%, indicating consistent, large-volume trade rather than fragmented small shipments.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners for Argentina's Molluscs can be grouped into three clusters based on trade patterns. The Volume Cluster includes China and Singapore, where weight shares surpass value shares, pointing to roles as bulk processing or logistics hubs for raw Molluscs. The High-Yield Cluster comprises Spain, Japan, the United States, France, and Italy, where value shares are higher than weight shares, reflecting demand for premium, processed Molluscs in these markets. The Transactional Cluster features Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea, with high frequency shares relative to value and weight, indicating small, frequent shipments likely for retail or fresh food supply chains.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For future strategy, Argentina should prioritize high-margin markets in the High-Yield Cluster, such as Spain and Japan, by promoting processed Molluscs under HS Code 0307. Logistics can be optimized for bulk buyers in China and Singapore to reduce costs. The trade data shows no need for immediate policy shifts, but monitoring global demand trends will help maintain competitiveness in Molluscs exports from Argentina.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Molluscs Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export destinations beyond China using hs code 0307 trade data to target high-margin markets like Spain and Japan, reducing reliance on a single bulk buyer and capturing better prices for Argentina Molluscs Export.
• Develop and promote higher-value processed products, such as frozen scallops, to sell into premium markets identified in the trade data, directly increasing the profit margin of the Molluscs supply chain.
• Optimize the Molluscs supply chain for bulk shipments to volume hubs like China and Singapore by negotiating long-term freight contracts, securing cost efficiency for the core Argentina Molluscs Export business.
• Use detailed hs code 0307 trade data to monitor frequency and size of shipments to transactional cluster countries, allowing for optimized production scheduling to meet demand for smaller, high-frequency orders without overstock.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Molluscs Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Molluscs Export 2025 Q2?

Argentina's Molluscs exports in Q2 2025 showed high volatility, with values peaking in April (546.80 million USD) before dropping sharply in May (102.32 million USD). This instability likely reflects trade policy shifts and seasonal demand cycles, with tentative recovery in June (136.67 million USD).

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

China is the dominant destination, accounting for 75.26% of export value and 84.29% of weight. Other key markets include Spain, Japan, and the U.S., which form a high-yield cluster with higher value shares relative to weight.

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 (8.23 USD/kg) dominate exports to China, while premium frozen scallops (25.61 USD/kg) target high-margin markets like Spain and Japan.

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

Exporters should prioritize cost efficiency for bulk shipments to China while diversifying into premium segments (e.g., scallops) for high-yield markets like Japan and Spain to capture better margins.

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 gain access to premium products. Frequent, small shipments to transactional clusters (e.g., Thailand) suit retail or fresh supply chains.

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

Argentina’s Molluscs (HS Code 0307) are primarily exported as frozen bulk commodities (cuttlefish, squid) for processing or as higher-value scallops for premium food markets.

Detailed Monthly Report

Argentina HS0307 Export Snapshot 2025 APR

Argentina HS0307 Export Snapshot 2025 MAY

Argentina HS0307 Export Snapshot 2025 JUN